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Rio 2016: Photos of deserted, abandoned Olympic venues around the world

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Rio 2016: Photos of deserted, abandoned Olympic venues around the world
WATCH: Ever wonder what happens to Olympic venues once the Games are done? – Aug 12, 2016

The Olympics are all about national pride and the celebration of athletic stamina. But hosting them, whether it be summer or winter, is an expensive feat.

A lot of money goes into the construction of Olympic Games venues that host athletes and visitors from around the world. The Sochi games cost roughly $50 billion, London $12 billion and Beijing $40 billion.

READ MORE: Penny Oleksiak makes history after winning gold in the 100-metre freestyle

Some Olympic facilities and venues have been re-purposed, but others have been deserted or completely demolished. As the Rio Games continue – over budget – here are a few eerie and sometimes spooky abandoned venues from the ghosts of the Olympics past.

Athens 2004

A chair stands in a deserted swimming pool at the Olympic Village in the town of Thrakomakedones, north of Athens July 25, 2014. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis.
General view of derelict stands at the Olympic Baseball Stadium at the Helliniko Olympic complex in Athens, Greece on July 31, 2014. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images).
A view of the disused Olympic softball stadium in Athens on June 11, 2012. (ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/GettyImages).
The abandoned stadium which hosted the beach volleyball competition during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games is seen behind a fence at the Faliro complex south of Athens July 22, 2014. REUTERS/Yorgos Karahalis.

Sarajevo 1984

A view of the disused bobsleigh track from the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympics on Mount Trebevic, near Sarajevo September 19, 2013. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic.
Downhill bikers Kemal Mulic (C), Tarik Hadzic (L) and Kamer Kolar train on the disused bobsled track from the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics on Trebevic mountain near Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, August 8, 2015. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic.
A view of the derelict medals podium at the disused ski jump from the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympics on Mount Igman, near Sarajevo September 19, 2013. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic.

 

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A view of the disused judges room for the ski jump from the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympics on Mount Igman, near Sarajevo September 19, 2013. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic.

Berlin 1936

View of the swimming pool in the 1936 Olympic village in Elstal, west of Berlin on May 5, 2008. (JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images).
View of the swimming pool in the 1936 Olympic village in Elstal, west of Berlin on May 5, 2008. (JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images).

 

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Deserted houses for the athletes in the former Olympic Village (Olympic Games 1936 in Berlin). (Photo by Martin Sachse/ullstein bild via Getty Images).

Beijing 2008

The 2008 Beijing Olympics venue for the beach volleyball competition lies deserted and unmaintained in central Beijing April 2, 2012. REUTERS/David Gray.
A security fence surrounds the deserted and unmaintained 2008 Beijing Olympics venue for the beach volleyball competition in central Beijing April 2, 2012. REUTERS/David Gray.

 

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A sign that reads “Keep off the Grass” stands at the deserted and unmaintained former venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games rowing competition, March 27, 2012. REUTERS/David Gray.

 

A car driven by a student of a driving school slowly moves around the carpark in front of the deserted 2008 Beijing Olympics venue for the cycling competition in central Beijing March 30, 2012.  REUTERS/David Gray.

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