Every four years, there are hundreds of cities clamoring to host the Olympics. But hosting the world's biggest international sporting event comes with a slew of challenges, including building significant athletic infrastructure that might become obsolete the moment the games end.
Many cities don't know what to do with their new stuff once the spotlight leaves, and dozens have let their villages go to waste.
Once vibrant meccas of life, here are 22 abandoned Olympic villages that have gone eerily silent.
1
Bobsleigh Track, Sarajevo, 1984 Winter Olympics.
5
Swimming Pool, Berlin, 1936 Summer Olympics Venue.
6
Olympic Village, Athens, 2004 Summer Olympics Venue.
7
Ski Jump Tower, Cortina D'ampezzo, Italy, 1956 Winter Olympics Venue.
8
Olympic Sports Complex, Sarajevo, 1984 Winter Olympics Venue.
9
Ski Jumping Tower, Grenoble, France, 1968 Winter Olympic Games.
10
Beach Volleyball Venue, Beijing, 2008 Summer Olympics.
12
Olympic Canoe And Kayak Slalom Center, Athens, 2004 Summer Olympics Venue.
13
Main Swimming Pool, Athens, 2004 Summer Olympics Venue.
14
Kayak And Canoeing Venue, Athens, 2004 Summer Olympics Venue.
15
Barricades Outside The Stadium, Athens, 2004 Summer Olympics Venue.
16
Olympic Village, Berlin, 1936 Summer Olympics Venue.
17
Olympic Flag Posts, Athens, 2004 Summer Olympics Venue.
18
Ski Jump, Sarajevo, 1984 Winter Olympics Venue.
19
View of single story dormitory halls for athletes in the 1936 Olympic village in Elstal, west of Berlin.
20
An empty spectator stand is seen overlooking the disused slalom course at the canoe-kayak water park at the 2004 Olympic complex in the Hellenikon district of Athens, Greece.
21
A view of the disused Olympic softball stadium in Athens.
22
Murky water and rubbish fill an abandoned training pool for athletes at the Olympic village on the northern fringes of Athens.
