The Athens 2004 Olympics Site Is Being Left To Rot 10 Years After The Games

“We simply made the biggest mistake in our history.”

The people of Athens were promised that hosting the 2004 Olympics would leave them an inspiring legacy, but exactly ten years on, the Olympic site lies empty, left to decay in the Greek heat.

The people of Athens were promised that hosting the 2004 Olympics would leave them an inspiring legacy, but exactly ten years on, the Olympic site lies empty, left to decay in the Greek heat.

AP /Thanassis Stavrakis

The 2004 Games became the most expensive there had ever been after the original budget doubled to around £7 billion.

The 2004 Games became the most expensive there had ever been after the original budget doubled to around £7 billion.

The abandoned beach volleyball Olympic venue in Neo Faliro, southern Athens.

AP/Thanassis Stavrakis

Not long afterwards, Greece was crippled by the global financial crisis. With the country’s economy nose-diving, the idea of maintaining the costly venues was abandoned.

Not long afterwards, Greece was crippled by the global financial crisis. With the country’s economy nose-diving, the idea of maintaining the costly venues was abandoned.

The canoe/kayak venue at the former Helliniko Olympic complex in southern Athens.

AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis

According to Reuters, many Greeks now look back on the Games in anger, and see little to celebrate about the anniversary.

According to Reuters , many Greeks now look back on the Games in anger, and see little to celebrate about the anniversary.

AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis


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