Beijing’s 2008 Olympic venues lay unused and abandoned a decade on from showpiece event

IT HAS only been 10 years since the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, but time has not been friendly to the once glittering arenas marking its legacy.

IT’S been 10 years since the magnificent 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and time has not been kind on the once gleaming venues across the Chinese capital.

At the time, China was hailed for staging an incredible show for the entire world to enjoy thanks to a combination of incredible architectural feats and excellent organisation.

President of the International Olympic Committee, Count Rogge, was just one to pile praise on the organisers of the Beijing extravaganza.

Rogge described the Beijing National Stadium as “one of the world’s new wonders” and a “fitting setting for an amazing Opening Ceremony.”

But despite dazzling the globe in 2008, a decade on and the show takes a somewhat sombre turn.

The abandoned whitewater kayaking stadium was built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The Olympic rings are fading next to the empty whitewater kayaking stadium.

The Beijing Olympic BMX track more resembles a forest than a sporting venue.

People are growing vegetables near the finish line of the BMX track.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games was the first with BMX as an event.

Beijing’s Olympics BMX Stadium has fallen a long way from the 2008 Games.

The water sport parks are now completely dried up — including the once glittering white-water rafting run, now in absolute ruin.

The beach volleyball stands are now reduced to rust and rotting wood while the once showstopping BMX track now looks more like a jungle with a rusty sail poking its ugly head through the greenery.

A rusted logo marks the entrance of the 2008 Olympic canoeing and rowing venue.

The Beijing Olympics beach volleyball venue has rotting wood in the stands.

Grass is growing through the sand at the 2008 Olympic beach volleyball stadium.

A faded Beijing 2008 sign sits in the grandstand of the beach volleyball stadium.

The cooling mist fans under the grandstand of the beach volleyball stadium are now gathering dust.

More rotting wood sits around the abandoned beach volleyball stadium.

The wet parts of the whitewater kayaking stadium more resemble a swamp than a venue that hosted Olympic competition.

Beibei, one of the games’ five mascots, lays abandoned behind a never-completed shopping centre.

Nini, one of the games’ five mascots, lays abandoned behind a never-completed shopping centre.

Sprawled across Beijing are more haunting reminders of yesteryear — with mascots including Nini, Yingjing and Beibei lying in tatters across the grounds.

While the impressive Bird’s Nest Stadium is still in use to this day — it would appear to be the only one still going strong.

In fact, the 91,000-seat arena is scheduled to play host to the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

A couple pose for a photo in front of the stadium known as the Bird’s Nest.

A light show was held to mark the 10th anniversary of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the National Stadium on August 1.

A family watch the light show marking the 10th anniversary of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

A man takes a photo in front of the Water Cube, which held the 2008 Olympics’ swimming events.

The Olympic rings still sit high above the 2008 Olympic canoeing and rowing venue.

This article was originally published by The Sun and reproduced with permission.