On 13 August 2004, the Olympic Games came home to Greece for the XXVIII Olympiad at an estimated cost of approximately €9bn. After the end sporting extravaganza, many of its once-gleaming Olympic venues lie abandoned. For many Greeks who swelled with pride at the time, the Games became source of anger as the country struggles through a depression, unemployment, homelessness and poverty, with many questioning how the nation has benefited from the multi-billion event.
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| Outside the Olympic Stadium. Photo: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images |
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| The Taekwondo Olympic Stadium at Faliro Olympic Complex. Photo: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images |
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| The Olympic Softball Stadium at the Helliniko Olympic Complex. Photo: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images |
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| Worn press seats at the outdoor Olympic Swimming Pool of the Olympic Complex. Photo: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP |
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| Derelict buildings at the Helliniko Olympic Complex. Photo: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images |
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| Posters with the logo of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games are seen inside a hall at the Olympic sailing centre, which is now used as a marina, in the Agios Kosmas suburb, south of Athens. Photo: Yorgos Karahalis/Reuters |
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| The Schinias Centre in Marathon that hosted the rowing and canoeing competitions. Photo: Yannis Kolesidis/EPA |
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| The Olympic Sports Complex. Photo: Yannis Kolesidis/EPA |
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| The Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre at the Helliniko Olympic complex. Photo: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images |
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| The Olympic Aquatic Centre. Photo: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images |
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| The Olympic Hockey Stadium at the Helliniko Olympic Complex. Photo: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images |
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| An abandoned training field at the Olympic Village. Photo: Orestis Panagiotou/EPA |
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| The Olympic Aquatic Centre. Photo: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images |
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| The remains of a fountain decorated with the Olympic rings and graffiti-defaced marble blocks dedicated to Greek Olympic medal winners are seen at the Olympic village. Photo: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP |
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| The abandoned beach volleyball venue in Neo Faliro. Photo: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP |
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| An abandoned training pool for athletes at the Olympic Village. Photo: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP |
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| The Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre at the Helliniko Olympic complex. Photo: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images |
Source: Abandoned Athens Olympic 2004 venues, 10 years on – in pictures
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