• A vandalised phone booth is seen at the Athens 2004 Olympic Complex in Athens. Many question how Greece, among the smallest countries to ever host the Games, has benefited from the multi-billion dollar event. Yannis Behrakis / Reuters
    A vandalised phone booth is seen at the Athens 2004 Olympic Complex in Athens. Many question how Greece, among the smallest countries to ever host the Games, has benefited from the multi-billion dollar event. Yannis Behrakis / Reuters
  • A commuter walks through the Agora structure at the Athens 2004 Olympic Complex. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
    A commuter walks through the Agora structure at the Athens 2004 Olympic Complex. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
  • Broken seats are seen at the abandoned baseball stadium at the Hellenikon Olympic complex. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
    Broken seats are seen at the abandoned baseball stadium at the Hellenikon Olympic complex. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
  • Garbage floats in a deserted swimming pool at the Olympic Village in Thrakomakedones, north of Athens. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
    Garbage floats in a deserted swimming pool at the Olympic Village in Thrakomakedones, north of Athens. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
  • The abandoned stadium which hosted the hockey competition during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games is seen at the Hellenikon complex south of Athens. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
    The abandoned stadium which hosted the hockey competition during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games is seen at the Hellenikon complex south of Athens. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
  • An auxiliary pitch at an abandoned stadium, which hosted the beach volleyball competition during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, is seen at the Faliro complex south of Athens. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
    An auxiliary pitch at an abandoned stadium, which hosted the beach volleyball competition during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, is seen at the Faliro complex south of Athens. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
  • The abandoned Canoe and Kayak Slalom Centre which hosted competitions during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
    The abandoned Canoe and Kayak Slalom Centre which hosted competitions during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
  • The rowing centre which hosted the competition during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games is seen in the town of Schinias. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
    The rowing centre which hosted the competition during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games is seen in the town of Schinias. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
  • A broken clock is seen at the abandoned Canoe and Kayak Slalom Centre which hosted competitions during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
    A broken clock is seen at the abandoned Canoe and Kayak Slalom Centre which hosted competitions during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
  • The abandoned Olympic Canoe and Kayak Slalom Centre is seen at the Hellenikon complex south of Athens. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
    The abandoned Olympic Canoe and Kayak Slalom Centre is seen at the Hellenikon complex south of Athens. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
  • The abandoned Canoe and Kayak Slalom Centre. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
    The abandoned Canoe and Kayak Slalom Centre. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
  • The stands are seen at the abandoned Olympic Canoe and Kayak Slalom Centre at the Hellenikon complex. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
    The stands are seen at the abandoned Olympic Canoe and Kayak Slalom Centre at the Hellenikon complex. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
  • The abandoned stadium which hosted the softball competition during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games is seen at the Hellenikon complex. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
    The abandoned stadium which hosted the softball competition during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games is seen at the Hellenikon complex. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
  • A general view of the former International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) for the Athens 2004 Olympics, which is now a shopping mall, near the Olympic Complex in Athens. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters
    A general view of the former International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) for the Athens 2004 Olympics, which is now a shopping mall, near the Olympic Complex in Athens. Yorgos Karahalis / Reuters

In pictures: Joy of Olympic Games in Greece just a faded memory


  • English
  • Arabic

Ten years after Greece hosted the world’s greatest sporting extravaganza, many of its once-gleaming Olympic venues have been abandoned.