<strong>Forgotten moments:</strong> It's been 10 years since Beijing hosted the 2008 Olympics. A decade later, many of the structures and venues lie abandoned. In some cases, they never came to fruition in the first place. Here, two of the Games' mascots, Nini and Yingying, lie in a wooded area behind a never-completed mall.
Forgotten moments: It's been 10 years since Beijing hosted the 2008 Olympics. A decade later, many of the structures and venues lie abandoned. In some cases, they never came to fruition in the first place. Here, two of the Games' mascots, Nini and Yingying, lie in a wooded area behind a never-completed mall.
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<strong>Faded legacy:</strong> Many of the venues have fallen into disuse, including this beach volleyball stadium.
Faded legacy: Many of the venues have fallen into disuse, including this beach volleyball stadium.
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<strong>Gone wild:</strong> Inside the Beach Volleyball stadium, it's equally eerie and weeds are growing wild.
Gone wild: Inside the Beach Volleyball stadium, it's equally eerie and weeds are growing wild.
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<strong>Wistful echo</strong>: The dilapidated mascots are a haunting sight.
Wistful echo: The dilapidated mascots are a haunting sight.
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<strong>Buried past: </strong>More trees and weeds are freely growing at the finish line of the BMX track used in the Olympic Games.
Buried past: More trees and weeds are freely growing at the finish line of the BMX track used in the Olympic Games.
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<strong>Former life:</strong> A rusted logo on the fence of the canoeing and rowing venue is a shadow of its former self.
Former life: A rusted logo on the fence of the canoeing and rowing venue is a shadow of its former self.
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<strong>Dilapidated:</strong> The athlete seating area inside the beach volleyball stadium built for the Games is looking worse for wear.
Dilapidated: The athlete seating area inside the beach volleyball stadium built for the Games is looking worse for wear.
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<strong>Rotting wood</strong>: Elsewhere in the beach volleyball stadium, wood is now rotting.
Rotting wood: Elsewhere in the beach volleyball stadium, wood is now rotting.
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<strong>Return to nature: </strong>As nature reclaims the man-made structures, people tend to vegetables near the former finish line of the BMX track used for Games.
Return to nature: As nature reclaims the man-made structures, people tend to vegetables near the former finish line of the BMX track used for Games.
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<strong>Disregarded moment:</strong> After ten years, the greenery is a significant part of the scenery inside the BMX stadium.
Disregarded moment: After ten years, the greenery is a significant part of the scenery inside the BMX stadium.
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<strong>Reclaimed by nature: </strong>Nini, another of the mascots for the Games, is seen lying among trees behind the abandoned, never-completed mall in Beijing.
Reclaimed by nature: Nini, another of the mascots for the Games, is seen lying among trees behind the abandoned, never-completed mall in Beijing.
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<strong>Left behind</strong>: Fu Niu Lele, the mascot for the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, also lies amongst trees behind the disused mall.
Left behind: Fu Niu Lele, the mascot for the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, also lies amongst trees behind the disused mall.
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<strong>Forgotten fans</strong>: Cooling fans are pictured here underneath the grandstand of the beach volleyball stadium constructed for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Forgotten fans: Cooling fans are pictured here underneath the grandstand of the beach volleyball stadium constructed for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
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<strong>Temporary feature</strong>: The logo-emblazoned fans are no longer being used in the beach volleyball stadium.
Temporary feature: The logo-emblazoned fans are no longer being used in the beach volleyball stadium.
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<strong>Worldwide issue: </strong>Rotting Olympics venues are not unique to Beijing. Rio, which only hosted in 2016, also has abandoned Olympic structures dotted across the city. Pictured here: the beach volleyball stadium built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Worldwide issue: Rotting Olympics venues are not unique to Beijing. Rio, which only hosted in 2016, also has abandoned Olympic structures dotted across the city. Pictured here: the beach volleyball stadium built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
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<strong>Unsustainable process</strong>: Athens also suffered a similar fate and many of the Olympic structures there remain abandoned. Pictured here: Huanhuan, one of the mascots for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games behind the never-completed mall in Beijing.
Unsustainable process: Athens also suffered a similar fate and many of the Olympic structures there remain abandoned. Pictured here: Huanhuan, one of the mascots for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games behind the never-completed mall in Beijing.
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<strong>Big changes:</strong> In preparation for the Olympic Games in 2008, Beijing had a flurry of building activity. Some neighborhoods were cleared to construct the huge stadiums.
Big changes: In preparation for the Olympic Games in 2008, Beijing had a flurry of building activity. Some neighborhoods were cleared to construct the huge stadiums.
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<strong>Juxtapostion</strong>: More trees and weeds shroud the former BMX track finish line.
Juxtapostion: More trees and weeds shroud the former BMX track finish line.
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<strong>Before and after</strong>: The whitewater kayaking stadium purpose-built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is no longer in use.
Before and after: The whitewater kayaking stadium purpose-built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is no longer in use.
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<strong>Uncertain legacy:</strong> The legacy of the Beijing Olympic Games remains uncertain and time will tell if the venues are refurbished or used again.
Uncertain legacy: The legacy of the Beijing Olympic Games remains uncertain and time will tell if the venues are refurbished or used again.
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<strong>New era:</strong> Beijing will be hosting the Winter Olympics in 2022 and has recently launched a competition inviting people to design the mascots for this competition.
New era: Beijing will be hosting the Winter Olympics in 2022 and has recently launched a competition inviting people to design the mascots for this competition.
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<strong>New and old</strong>: It is understood that some of the venues used in the 2008 Olympic Games will be repurposed for the 2022 event.
New and old: It is understood that some of the venues used in the 2008 Olympic Games will be repurposed for the 2022 event.
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