In cities across the world, sports stadiums and venues are abandoned as events such as the Olympic Games depart and regeneration projects move teams and people on. But there are other stories too, as your pictures of deserted places have shown. In Prypiat, the municipal stadium lies in decay after the city was evacuated following the Chernobyl disaster. In Vilnius, a new national stadium was never even completed. Now these deserted places are home to birds and vegetation – and some may be demolished to make way for luxury developments.
Athens, Greece
The Athens Olympics Softball Stadium
I went to have a look at the Olympics park in Athens, now mainly semi-ruined. The last event held there was a pro-legalising-marijuana rally.
Vilnius, Lithuania
New National Stadium Vilnius
A construction site since 1987, this stadium on the backdrop to a new 'Akropolis' mall (not on the picture) and soviet style living blocks still needs to be finished.
Prypiat, Ukraine
Abandoned Terraces.
Abandoned Terraces at the Prypiat Municipal Stadium, Prypiat, Ukraine. Abandoned April 1986 following the town's evacuation post Chernobyl explosion.
Yokohama, Japan
Old Grandstand Yokohama Racing Club
This was the place where the 1st ww2 POW's of the Japanese were kept on the night of 7th Jan 1942. They were 7 New Zealand Coastwatchers and one British Colonial administrator. My father was one of the coast watchers. The next morning they saw horses training around the track before being taken to begin almost 4 years as slave labourers in Japan. This picture was taken by me on April25, 2012.
Glasgow, UK
New Cathkin Park, Glasgow.
Cathkin Park is a stone's throw from Hampden Stadium in Glasgow and was home to a football arena from 1884. When Queen's Park moved across the road to Hampden in 1903, Third Lanark AC made it their home. They played here until 1967 when the team folded, five years short of their centenary.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium
Designed by Cambodia's best-known architect, Vann Molyvann, the Olympic stadium in Phnom Penh was completed in 1964. It was used for executions during the Khmer Rouge era, and now the indoor arena plays host to nesting swifts. There is talk that it will be demolished to make way for luxury high-rises.
Savannakhet, Laos
What is left of the olympic stadium entrance...
This was taken during a seven-month trip in South East Asia. Laos, as well as Cambodia, is covered with modern-inspired architecture, let to its fate.
Sheffield, UK
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