The venue from £28BILLION Beijing Games used as a vegetable patch, crumbling hotels in Sarajevo and Rio de Janeiro's eerie empty arenas - the shameful abandonment of Olympics sites

Abandoned Olympic Venues: From Beijing to Sarajevo and Rio de Janeiro

Several Olympic venues, including those from the £28 billion Beijing Games, are now facing neglect and abandonment. Sites in Sarajevo and Rio de Janeiro are reported to be in disrepair, with some being repurposed for unintended uses such as agriculture.

What happened

Olympic venues built for international sporting events have fallen into disuse and disrepair. The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics venue is now reportedly being used as a vegetable patch. In Sarajevo, hotels built for the 1984 Winter Olympics are crumbling, while Rio de Janeiro's facilities from the 2016 Summer Olympics remain eerily empty.

Why this is gaining attention

The abandonment of these sites has drawn scrutiny as cities grapple with the long-term impact of hosting the Olympics. Critics highlight the financial burden on host cities and the lack of sustainable planning for post-Olympic use of facilities.

What it means

The situation raises questions about the viability of future Olympic bids and the responsibility of host cities to manage infrastructure after the events conclude. It also underscores ongoing discussions regarding the environmental and economic implications of large-scale sporting events.

Key questions

• Q: What is the situation?
  A: Several Olympic venues are abandoned or repurposed, including a vegetable patch in Beijing and crumbling hotels in Sarajevo.
• Q: Why is this important now?
  A: The neglect of these sites highlights issues related to financial sustainability and urban planning associated with hosting the Olympics.