In August 2016, they were the Brazilian venues that captivated the world.
But just six months on, a number of Rio de Janeiro’s major Olympic venues have fallen into disrepair.
Seats jumbled in a pile inside Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The stadium has been vandalised as stadium operators, the Rio state government, and Olympic organisers, have fought over $1 million in unpaid electricity bills and management of the venue. Photo: AP
A homeless man sleeps outside the closed main gates to the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: AFP
The aquatics centre’s practice pool is now a rust-coloured mire and the Olympic Park precinct with its two arenas, tennis centre and velodrome has effectively been closed.
A view of the Olympic Aquatics Stadium, which was used for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Photo: Reuters
The Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro is in a dilapidated condition. Photo: Reuters
Yet the most striking damage is to the Maracana Stadium, which was renovated for the 2014 Fifa World Cup at a cost of about $500 million, and largely abandoned after the Olympics and Paralympics.
The Maracana stadium was renovated for the 2014 World Cup at a cost of about $500 million, and largely abandoned after the Olympics and Paralympics, then hit by vandals who ripped out thousands of seats and stole televisions. Photo: AP
Worms have damaged the playing surface and the stadium has been looted, with windows smashed, copper wire stolen and some 10 per cent of the seats torn up.
Nobs are left where seats were ripped out at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: AP
An aerial view of Maracana Stadium shows the turf being dry, worn and filled with ruts and holes, in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Reuters
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: The endGames
