Well, it has been 8 years now since Athens hosted the Olympic games in 2004. The countries and cities hosting the games always go on about the lasting legacy of the games and the facilities. 

We have passed the metro station quite a few times and if somebody got out they always went to Irakleio, not the Olympic stadium except fo 4 tourists. When we walked around this vast area it made quite a desolate impression. Trees, weeds and shrubs claim back all the not paved area; paint peels of most of the metallic structures and there is basically nobody around. 

The facilities are still being used by athletes for training but 20 people in an olympic swimming pool look pretty lost and so do 3 cyclists in a purpose built velodrome.

It all looks still pretty impressive but you can't help but think that in another 10 years time they might event think about demolishing it because some of the structures might become unsafe and you can already see smashed in windows and doors.

Not sure that is the legacy any Olympic city is aiming for but I guess that is the reality in most of them.

Don't let my ramblings distract you of the beauty of this structure. It looks also pretty impressive if you right click in the image and go to 'little planet' view.