21 Historic Olympic Venues That Are Now Completely Abandoned

By

Lisette Marie

November 5, 2025

15. The Beach Volleyball Venue – Rio 2016 (Brazil)

Copacabana. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons @Luã Leal

Beach volleyball, one of the most iconic and festive events of the Rio Olympics, took place at a temporary stadium on Copacabana Beach. While the location remains one of the world’s most famous beaches, the stadium itself is long gone. What remains is an open lot, largely ignored, where thousands once cheered under the Brazilian sun. Unlike some other venues, this site disappeared entirely—erased, as if the games had never happened.

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