Olympic Stadiums That Now Serve Completely Different Purposes

7. Lillehammer’s Olympic Village (1994) – Now a Refugee Center

Original Purpose: Hosted athletes during the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. New Purpose: Converted into housing for refugees.Unlike many Olympic Villages that were abandoned or demolished after the Games, Lillehammer’s athlete accommodations were repurposed for humanitarian aid. Rather than allowing the buildings to sit empty, Norway saw an opportunity to address a global crisis—turning the village into a refugee center to house individuals fleeing war, political unrest, and natural disasters. Since its conversion, the former Olympic housing has welcomed thousands of refugees from conflict zones, including those escaping the Yugoslav Wars, the Syrian civil war, and various crises in Africa and the Middle East. The site provides temporary shelter, essential services, and job-training programs to help new arrivals integrate into Norwegian society. This compassionate repurposing sets an example of how Olympic facilities can be used for greater social good long after the athletes have left. It highlights the potential for host cities to create legacies that extend beyond sports—helping some of the world’s most vulnerable people rebuild their lives.