Practice Round
A test-run of fireworks at Maracana Stadium lights up the sky before the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Neglected and Recycled Olympic Stadiums From Around the World
Some past venues are repurposed—for instance, as soccer stadiums—but others are falling into disrepair.
At the first modern Olympics in 1896, there were just 14 countries and 241 athletes. This year, over 200 countries and more than 11,000 athletes will participate at the games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The need for bigger stadiums has presented new problems for modern cities: What to do with Olympic venues after the games are over?
Some cities, after spending millions to build expensive venues, end up dismantling them or letting them sit in disuse. Others, like London, repurpose their Olympic stadiums. (See more old Olympic venues.)
After spending $700 million to build a stadium for the 2012 summer Olympics, London spent another $400 million turning it into a soccer stadium for West Ham United, says
