These abandoned Olympic venues look so sad
This impressive high-speed railway train is ready to transport spectators to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, set for early February.
What might await this glistening infrastructure after the Games end? It could see further use... or it could face the unfortunate fate of many other former Olympic venues — abandonment.
Here's a look at some once-glorious Olympic venues, now brought low by years of neglect.
No more water
Here's a view from the Olympic Aquatics stadium at the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in May 2017.
In the months after Rio's 2016 Olympics, very few events were organized in the venues.
Closure ordered
A Brazilian judge ordered the closure of the Rio aquatics venue on safety grounds in 2020.
Numerous areas of standing water could be found inside and outside the venue in the former official and training pools, making them high risk areas for the mosquitoes that carry dengue fever and Zika virus.
Desolate panorama
Here's another view of an abandoned Olympic venue in Brazil.
The building stood in stark contrast to Beijing's iconic Water Cube, a facility constructed for the 2008 games, and which is still in use today.
A sad scene in Athens
Pictured here is a stadium from the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
The photo was taken on June 11, 2012.
Bobsleigh, 1984 Sarajevo Olympics
The bobsleigh track from 1984 Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo, pictured on February 21, 2014.
At the time of the games, the city was part of Yugoslavia, but it was torn apart by war in the 1990s. Sarajevo is now the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Olympic Village, 2004 Athens Olympics
The Athens Olympic Village used during Greece's 2004 Summer Games, pictured on July 31, 2014.
Pool, 1936 Berlin Olympics
A swimming pool from the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. The picture was taken on May 5, 2008.
Ski jump, 1984 Sarajevo Olympics
The ski jumping facility from the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo, pictured on February 21, 2014.
Amphitheater, 1936 Berlin Olympics
An amphitheater from the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, pictured on May 5, 2008.
Podium, 1984 Sarajevo Olympics
A podium for winners at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, pictured on February 21, 2014.
Hotel, 1984 Sarajevo Olympics
A hotel used during Sarajevo's 1984 Olympic Games, pictured on February 21, 2014.
The city was torn apart by war between 1992-1996.
Canoe/kayak center, 2004 Olympics
The canoe/kayak slalom center from the 2004 Olympics in Athens, pictured on July 31, 2014.
Ski jump, 1984 Sarajevo Olympics
The ski jumping venue from Sarajevo's 1984 Olympics, pictured on February 5, 2014.
Canoe/kayak stadium, 2004 Olympics
The Olympic canoe/kayak stadium from the 2004 Olympics in Athens, pictured on June 11, 2012.
Olympic rings, 2004 Athens Olympics
Olympic rings from the 2004 Athens Games, pictured on July 31, 2014.
Softball stadium, 2004 Athens Olympics
The softball stadium used during the Athens Games, pictured on June 11, 2012.
Swimming pool, 2004 Athens Olympics
A swimming pool from the Athens Olympics, pictured on July 31, 2014.
Sports hall, 1984 Sarajevo Olympics
The collapsed roof of an Olympic sports hall from Sarajevo's 1984 Olympics, pictured on February 13, 2012.
Softball stadium, 2004 Athens Olympics
A softball stadium from the Athens Games, pictured on June 11, 2012.
Baseball stadium, 2004 Athens Olympics
A baseball stadium from the Athens Games, pictured on July 31, 2014.
Hockey stadium, 2004 Athens Olympics
The hockey stadium from the 2004 Athens Olympics, pictured on June 11, 2012.
Olympic Village, 2004 Athens Olympics
The Olympic Village from the Athens Games, pictured on July 31, 2014.
Training pool, 2004 Athens Olympics
A training pool from the Athens Games, pictured on August 2, 2012.
Baseball stadium, 2004 Athens Olympics
A baseball stadium at the Hellinikon Olympic complex in Athens, pictured on July 31, 2014.
Aquatic center, 2004 Olympics
The aquatic center from the Athens Games, pictured on July 31, 2014.
Stadium, 2004 Athens Olympics
The Olympic stadium from the Athens Games, pictured on July 31, 2014.
Olympic hotel, 1984 Sarajevo Olympics
An Olympic hotel from the 1984 Sarajevo Games, pictured on February 5, 2014.
Desolation in Tokyo
Here's an unused spectator entrance to the Tokyo Olympics Aquatic Centre on August 6, 2021.
For the Tokyo Games, originally scheduled for 2020, fans were barred from most events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which also caused the Games' yearlong postponement.
Lonely gates in Rio
Gates remain in the mostly abandoned Olympic Park on March 18, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The country faced in a deep economic and political crisis following the 2016 Olympics. Critics believed the money spent on the games could have been better spent on developing infrastructure in the country.
Left to the weeds
Weeds grow in front of the Olympic Aquatics stadium at the Olympic Park on March 18, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This picture was taken only seven months after the Rio hosted the first Olympic Games in South America.
Dark doorway
A doorway is blocked with a makeshift grate at the Olympic Aquatics stadium at the Olympic Park on March 18, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Many of the costly venue sites were mostly abandoned in spite of promises from organizers that the games would provide a legacy benefit for the citizens of Brazil.
View from above
Here's an aerial view of a partially degraded Olympic golf course, at right, next to vacant lots on March 17, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Empty track
Here's another aerial view of Rio's abandoned infrastructure.
This shot features the Olympic BMX track on March 17, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
No more soccer
This is a general view of a children's soccer field in the Olympic Park on March 18, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Since this photo was taken, parts of this Olympic complex were repurposed for the site of a 2017 music festival.
Even the chess is no more
Even the chess boards are no longer in use here.
Chess tables stand in Olympic Park on March 18, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
No access for citizens
Only steps remain in the mostly abandoned Olympic Park on March 18, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Tennis anyone? Anyone?
Aerial view of the remains of the tennis facilities in Olympic Park on March 17, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Since their closure, the facilities have been off-limits to tourists.
Lonely vigil
A man waits for a bus next to the mostly abandoned media center and other buildings on March 13, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The center has since reportedly been dismantled.
Bulldozer at work
A bulldozer sits outside the edge of the Olympic Golf Course on March 13, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The golf course turned out to be a bright spot for Brazil post-Olympics.
Does the speed limit still apply?
Here sits an abandoned Athlete's Village, on March 13, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The facility once had space for 17,950 people. The space was supposed to be repurposed into luxury condos. But in July of 2017, the complex was reportedly only 7% sold.
No one incoming
A partially constructed helipad stands near the Olympic Golf Course on March 13, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Travel guides indicate that the pad may once again be in use for golfers.
Polluted shoreline
The Olympic Park stands with polluted water along the shoreline on March 17, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
An old structure
This is the abandoned historic bobsleigh track for the 1936 Olympic Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, shown in a photo taken on August 11, 2021.
The bobsleigh track was constructed in 1910 and was renovated in 1933 before being used for the Olympics three years later.
Bobsleigh remnants
This track was demolished in 1966, but remnants of the track can be seen on sleigh rides near the lake.
One of the demonstration "sports" for the 1936 games: "military patrol."
False "start"
Another view of the abandoned bobsleigh track from the 1936 Olympic Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, pictured on on August 11, 2021.
Germany also hosted the summer Olympics that year.