The years and months leading up to an Olympic Games see a flurry of activity, as cities rush to complete the additional facilities required to host a broad range of events. Many are permanent venues that are intended for legacy use, perhaps as stadiums for local football teams or municipal swimming pools for the general population. In some cities, however, factors such as a lack of funds or unexpected political change can take their toll on Olympic venues. But as is often the case with abandoned places, these derelict structures retain a mystical appeal and can be eerily beautiful to visit, especially in light of their former glory. Take a look at five abandoned Olympic venues that are worth checking out.
Ski Jump – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
The Trampolino Olimpico Italia (Italian Olympic Ski Jump) may sit empty today, but it had an illustrious past. Surrounded by the stunning Italian Dolomites, the ski jump was constructed for the 1956 Winter Olympics held in Cortina d’Ampezzo. In addition to hosting the world’s top skiers that year, you might also recognize it from the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, when a suave Roger Moore takes flight with rifle-toting assassins on motorbikes in hot pursuit.
But ski jumping hills must be accredited with the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) for insurance reasons, and the certification lapsed at Cortina in 1990. Even though the Italian resort town (together with Milan) is due to stage the Winter Games again in 2026, there are no plans to bring the landmark jump back into use. Instead, a different ski jumping hill at Predazzo in the Val di Fiemme will be the focus. In the meantime, visitors to Cortina will still be able to admire the sleek lines of its abandoned predecessor.
Linnahall – Tallinn, Estonia
At the time of the Moscow Summer Olympics in 1980, Estonia was part of the Soviet Union. With no suitable venue in the Russian capital to host the sailing competitions, Estonia’s capital city, Tallinn, took on the task. The city constructed the Lenin Palace of Culture and Sport (later renamed Linnahall) to host these events during the 1980 Games. Designed by architects Raine Karp and Riina Altmae, this multipurpose venue boasted a 5,000-seat amphitheater that was later used to stage music concerts, along with a seasonal ice rink with a capacity of 3,000 people, before falling into disrepair and becoming abandoned by the end of that decade.
Today, its outlook over the Baltic Sea perhaps softens the decaying Brutalist architecture, yet the structure sits low enough not to spoil those same sea views from Tallinn’s charming medieval Old Town. The city authorities hope that, one day, Linnahall can be refurbished, but for now it’s a poignant reminder of Estonia’s past.
Bobsleigh and Luge Track – Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was still a part of Yugoslavia when the city hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. Among the many facilities created for those Games was a bobsleigh and luge track, designed by architect Gorazd Bučar and constructed on the slope of Mount Trebević. The track was also used for several other events over the years, including World Cup competitions and the European Bobsleigh Championships.
However, it sustained serious damage during the war that took place in the region in the 1990s, when it served as an artillery position for Bosnian Serb forces during the Siege of Sarajevo. But today, the venue is still mostly intact, if covered in colorful graffiti, and city authorities hope to restore it for winter use at some point. In the meantime, competitive lugers make the most of it for summer training.
Hellinikon Olympic Canoe and Kayak Slalom Centre – Athens, Greece
Greece was the birthplace of the ancient Olympiad and the first host of the modern Olympic Games, which took place in 1894. When Athens successfully bid to host the 2004 Summer Olympics, it ended up costing the country about $11 billion, according to several reports, with unforeseen costs sending the Games considerably over budget.
It’s particularly noteworthy in that context to see that some of these purpose-built venues are no longer in use. One such facility is the Hellinikon Olympic Canoe and Kayak Slalom Centre, which boasted two courses and a warm-up pool, as well as seating for 7,600 spectators. The pool was unusual in that the water was salty, pumped in from the Aegean Sea. However, it’s now dry, and weeds have colonized the stadium seating where excited fans once cheered.
Alonzo Herndon Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia
Alonzo Herndon Stadium, located on the Morris Brown College campus in Atlanta, was built in 1948. It was named for a local entrepreneur who was born enslaved and who later became the city’s first Black millionaire. The stadium had been regularly used before it was expanded to host the field hockey competition during the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games. However, less than two decades later, it is one of six of the 28 Atlanta Olympic venues to not remain in use.
The college experienced significant financial hardship and planned to sell the stadium to raise funds. But lengthy legal issues over title deeds meant the stadium fell into disrepair. This has attracted the attention of Hollywood location scouts, though, who embrace its rundown state. For instance, the venue featured in the 2024 movie Civil War as a refugee camp. So, it seems for the time being that this abandoned Olympic venue’s legacy will be on the big screen.
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