The legacy of 2008 Beijing Olympics- Venues then and now

Marking the tenth anniversary of 2008 Beijing Olympics, we take a look at the Olympic village then and now.

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Marking the tenth anniversary of 2008 Beijing Olympics, we take a look at the Olympic village then and now. ▲

Beijing hosted its most ambitious and biggest event in the world of sports --The Olympics on August 8, 2008. (Getty Images) ▲

In the build up to the mega event, five mascots named Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, Nini were created in such a way that combining them would spell out "Beijing huan ying ni" in Chinese which means "Beijing welcomes you". (Getty Images) ▲

Nini and Yingying, two of the five mascots, lie abandoned behind an unfinished mall in Beijing. (AFP)

Photo: AFP

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Beibei, another one of the five mascots, covered in trees. (AFP)

Photo: AFP

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The Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground during the 2008 Olympics. (Getty Images)

Photo: Getty Images

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The dusted entry to the same beach volleyball stadium now. (AFP)

Photo: AFP

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Ten years on, the stadium is now home to various kinds of plant life. (AFP)

Photo: AFP

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The cooling mist fans used during the event lay neglected below the stands. (AFP)

Photo: AFP

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The Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park during the 2008 Olympics. (Getty Images)

Photo: Getty Images

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Ten years on, the facility's rusted gates is not the most welcoming sight. (AFP)

Photo: AFP

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It is not difficult to identify what has happened to the same Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park now. (AFP)

Photo: AFP

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The glory days are long gone for the abandoned facility. (AFP)

Photo: AFP

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The Laoshan Bicycle Moto Cross Venue during the 2008 Olympics. (Getty Images)

Photo: AFP

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The track now looks unrecognisable with fully grown trees and shrubbery. (AFP)

Photo: AFP

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The legacy of the 2008 Olympics lingers across the streets of Beijing, but the abandoned stadiums showcase the sad state of affairs in the Chinese capital. (AFP)

Photo: AFP

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