Oh let not time deceive you, you cannot conquer time...

[Skybird]

1984, Sarajevo. Glamour and show at the winter Olympics in the city. Torvill and Dean performed their famous Bolero and score 6's en masse. Celebrations and a display of youth's hopes and expectations for a bright future. Colours and smiles everywhere.

These photos show the same places, 30 years later.

Makes one think about this strange alien that man is. What has happened to all the light and glory? What has taken it all away?

http://einestages.spiegel.de/external/ShowTopicAlbumBackgroundXXL/a29950/l0/l0/F.html

They write parts of the sports sites are still minefields, and stadiums were used as mass graves.

[Dread Knot]

http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-TU282_0717be_EA_20120717130845.jpg
Beijing 2008


http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17uyxoqiua6c9jpg/ku-xlarge.jpg
Athens 2004

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/07/25/article-2178614-14326ED4000005DC-797_634x424.jpg
India 2010 Commonweath games

Seems to be an immutable iron law that any international sports venue becomes a dump once the event is over.

[Skybird]

Some years ago there was a study that showed that not a single olympics, neither winter nor summer games, ever held the promises the organisers made about how much it would help to boost industry and business, economy and infrastructure. All olympic games ever held, were deficitary and at the huge cost of the hosts (=tax payers). None ever created profits that compensated for the growing monumental costs, neither directly nor indirectly. Economic stimuli from the games never were sufficient to compensate for the costs of holding the games.

I bet it is not any different with FIFA events. Not to mention the hopeless and omnipresent amount of corruption and organised crime (bets, match manipulations) in the business.

Not mentioning the omnipresent doping. For Sochi experts predict that at least 60% of all athletes will be doped, and that the anti-doping agencies already are brimming with corruption and pro-doping manipulation of the agencies' work.

It's all a show act, and an appeal to stir sentimental emotions.

[Mittelwaechter]

The more expensive to maintain and non necessary for local events a building is, the faster the decay.

Today the quick money is more important than the lasting value.
Taxmoney goes private pretty fast these days.

[Jimbuna]

Most likely due to lack of funds for maintenance purposes or a shift in priorities.

2002 Commonwealth Games Stadium Manchester.
http://s29.postimg.org/td3hchv2v/city_of_manchester_stadium_project.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

[Dread Knot]

Then here in the US, you have the Houston Astrodome. Declared the "Eight Wonder of the World" in 1965. Now standing empty for years with possible demolition in the future.

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/newsroom/img/posts/2013/11/AP221717772803/814788a5c.jpg

[Betonov]

1991 happened

[the_tyrant]

People always mock Atlanta 1996 for the terrorist attack, the commercialism, and the overall "crudeness" of the facilities.

But you know what, honestly, Atlanta got probably one of the best deals when it comes to the Olympics.

The main stadium got another 20 years of life by becoming the home of the Atlanta Braves (due to be demolished when the lease runs out in a few years). At least the Braves paid rent (probably barely enough to maintain the thing), and the public-private partnership has allowed local government to make some of its money back from the 20$ parking, 6$ hot dogs, and 5$ beers.

Many of the peripheral stadiums went to local schools, and some are still in use.

Finally, the blatant commercialism at least made quite a bit of money, covering quite a bit of the costs.

[fireftr18]

It's a shame those beautiful facilities went to waste. One would think that they would be used for other world class events. About Atlanta, I know someone who worked sports medicine for the Olympics there. He said instead of building new facilities from scratch, they up-graded existing facilities. In the case of those that needed to built new, such as the stadium, they had a plan for continued use. Lexington, KY was host to World Equestrian Games while I was still working there. One permanent structure was built, a new larger, arena. It replaced the old one. The rest of the facilities were temporary.

[TarJak]

Sydney's Olympic complex was built with future use in mind. The games village became a new suburb the stadium and other facilities are used often and regular football of all codes cricket and other entertainment events are held there.

[Dread Knot]

People always mock Atlanta 1996 for the terrorist attack, the commercialism, and the overall "crudeness" of the facilities.

But you know what, honestly, Atlanta got probably one of the best deals when it comes to the Olympics.

The main stadium got another 20 years of life by becoming the home of the Atlanta Braves (due to be demolished when the lease runs out in a few years). At least the Braves paid rent (probably barely enough to maintain the thing), and the public-private partnership has allowed local government to make some of its money back from the 20$ parking, 6$ hot dogs, and 5$ beers.

Many of the peripheral stadiums went to local schools, and some are still in use.

Finally, the blatant commercialism at least made quite a bit of money, covering quite a bit of the costs.

In retrospect that does sound like the wiser course. No one will shed many tears if a bunch of pre-fab Olympic buildings get torn down. It's the glamor projects always seem to become monuments to pointlessness, because it's too painful to admit defeat and just take the wrecking ball to them.

[Aktungbby]

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/pictures/1990.30.0089.jpeg the original site at Olympus...

[Catfish]

^ :rotfl2: :up:

[Wolferz]

So, being chosen as a host city for the Olympics is more a curse than a boon?
Kind of like an X-Box... Five rings of death.:huh::haha:

It would be funny if no city put forth a bid to host. The IOC scramble would be epic!:haha:

[TorpX]

It would be funny if no city put forth a bid to host. The IOC scramble would be epic!:haha:

Yes, that would be something to see. :yep:

[Skybird]

It would be funny if no city put forth a bid to host.

Leave the decision not to politicians, fat cats and lobbyists but the people, and that could happen easily. ;)

Last year, for example, Munich had to hold a referendum on whether to bid for Olympic winter games - and the officials' propaganda failed to attract the people. The local population and land owners said No by majority, due to the hilarious costs and the destruction of nature and landscape.

Of course, officials had just one reaction. They snapped. Their subordinate subjects refused to obey. Scandal!

I know that in the Ruhrgebiet and in Berlin the public mood also is against hosting such sports mass events, namely Olympia.

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Then here in the US, you have the Houston Astrodome. Declared the "Eight Wonder of the World" in 1965. Now standing empty for years with possible demolition in the future.

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/newsroom/img/posts/2013/11/AP221717772803/814788a5c.jpg

Man, I remember when Wrestlemania XVII was held there. That crowd was MENTAL