Rio's $700 million athletes village was turned into luxury condos but is now reportedly 'shuttered' and 93% vacant

Source: Business Insider:

July 18, 2017 at 17:23

The Rio Olympics continue to be an example of why more and more cities are wary of hosting the games.

Rio 2016 has essentially become a financial disaster, with the games costing $13 billion in a mix of private and public money, according to a June Associated Press report.

Much of the Olympic infrastructure is abandoned or underused, including the $700 million athletes village that was supposed to be turned into luxury condos once the games were over.

Stephen Wade of the Associated Press recently reported via Twitter that the athletes village was "shuttered" and that only 7% of the condos had been sold.

The vast emptiness of the Athletes Village from last year's Olympics. Shuttered. 3,600 apartments. Reports say 7 percent sold. pic.twitter.com/HAjnxzEOiU
— Stephen Wade (@StephenWadeAP) July 16, 2017

Other areas aren't in much better shape. The Olympic Park has staged some events but is largely underused and wasn't sold because there was only one bidder, according to the AP report. Wade reported that the Olympic Park was also basically vacant.

Would IOC President Thomas Bach want to be seen in Rio's vacant Olympic Park? Billions squandered to help drive real estate deals. pic.twitter.com/I6XnUjQyWK
— Stephen Wade (@StephenWadeAP) July 16, 2017

With no food or vendors, there's almost no reason to visit, Wade reported.

Rio's Olympic Park a year after: arenas shut, no shade, no food, few people. No planning after spending billions. Tokyo must not repeat. pic.twitter.com/xEKh07088l
— Stephen Wade (@StephenWadeAP) July 16, 2017

Rio should serve as a warning to other countries about the costs of hosting the Olympics. The images of nearly abandoned venues have surfaced at a time when costs of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have reportedly doubled to $12.6 billion, up from the $6 billion that was projected when Tokyo won the bid in 2013.

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