Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Good to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

Tragic Time Capsules: Capturing the Decay of Forgotten Olympic Venues

Cities spend billions getting themselves all dolled up for the big dance. But what happens to all those old prom dresses?

Good Is
By Good IsJul 01, 2012
Good Is
See Full Bio

In a new project called "The Olympic City," photographer Jon Pack and filmmaker Gary Hustwit are taking a close look at what the Olympic Games leave behind. Cities spend billions getting themselves all dolled up for the big dance. But what happens to all those old prom dresses? Some of the grand structures built for the Olympics have had second lives as malls, churches, even prisons; others have fallen into desuetude. Pack and Hustwit bring a healthy skepticism to their project, questioning the real, lasting benefit of the Games for host cities. Their Kickstarter- funded project will produce a limited edition hard cover book and a digital edition documenting their trips to former Olympic sites in Los Angeles, Montreal, Lake Placid, Athens, Rome, and Mexico City, with several others to be added this summer and fall.

GOOD: What sparked the idea for this project?

JON PACK: I found myself thinking about old Olympic host cities a lot during the 2008 Beijing games. It was intriguing to me that so much of the coverage in the weeks leading up to those Games focused more on how much money the city was spending than anything else. They were the first Olympics where I knew more about the stadiums and how many fireworks would be used in the opening ceremonies than I did about who was favored in women’s gymnastics. It made me first wonder what would have happened if my home city of New York had won its bid for the Games instead of London. I honestly couldn’t imagine how much my landscape would potentially have changed, and for what, in the end? These big cities and small villages that have hosted the Games have done so in vastly different ways and for plenty of different reasons, but at the end of it all, it’s always the same result: the closing ceremonies. It’s like they’re all exes of the Olympics. I wondered (and I’m still wondering) what these cities and their citizens are really left with after the Games pack up and leave.

GOOD: What kinds of problems do the Olympics create for host cities, either in the days after the games or the decades after?



GARY HUSTWIT: I think the biggest problem is when short-term urban planning meets long-term realities in cities. Does a city really need a dozen new stadiums and arenas, at a cost of billions, or are there more pressing issues that money should go towards? In some cases there’s massive displacement of communities in areas where this construction is going to happen, as we’ve seen in London and in Rio, where the 2016 Summer Olympics will be held.

GOOD: Are there any cities that seem very negatively affected by the legacy of the Olympics?



HUSTWIT: In recent history, Athens seems to be the city that’s been the most negatively affected. They spent $15 billion dollars on construction of new sports facilities that are sitting unused eight years later. I’m not saying that caused the Greek financial crisis, but it sure didn’t help matters.

GOOD: Do you think there are ways Olympic development and building can be approached differently to take into account a city’s long-term interests?



HUSTWIT: Well, I think cities need to think hard about exactly why they want to host a spectacle like the Olympics. If there’s a way to integrate Olympic-related development into the organic growth or re-generation of a city, or if the development is designed to be temporary, then it can make sense. There’s been a lot of discussion around London’s legacy plan; they’ve built some facilities that are meant to be dismantled after the games. We’re planning on photographing London for the project, but only after the Games are over.

GOOD: In the year 2050, how will (or how should) preparation for the games affect a host city?



HUSTWIT: Will there even be an Olympic Games in 2050? Seriously, I think it’s too far away to predict what global sporting events will still exist in 40 years, and what cities’ priorities will be. If the basic provisions of Kyoto are achieved by then, I’m not sure flying hundreds of thousands of people around the world to watch other people run around a track will make sense anymore. But I guess we’ll always to be drawn to the spectacle, so who knows.

olympicsurban decayurban developmentgary hustwitolympic citiesolympic venuesjohn packcrowdfunding

The Latest

Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, WOMAD, 1982 reunion, Six of the Best, progressive rock, Steve Hackett, music history, Tony Banks
Past Events

The unbelievable 1982 Genesis reunion with Peter Gabriel was to save him from crushing debt

psychological tricks, social hacks, Reddit, communication, social anxiety, persuasion, de-escalation, body language, conversation tips, bystander effect
Past Events

15 'psychological tricks' that can help you 'win' in almost every social situation

animal welfare, dog reunion, animal shelter, dog parents, fundraisers
Good People

She surrendered her dog but wrote the shelter every day. Community rallied to help them reunite.

replaying conversations, anxiety, mental health tips, rumination, professional help
Health

Can’t stop replaying conversations in your head? Experts share how to quiet them.

More For You

music, brain, opioids, music therapy, scientific discovery

Scientists have found the physical reason why music feels good.

Photo credit: Canva

Neuroscientists find that those who think music is 'like a drug' are actually right

They say music soothes the soul, but many people feel music in their bodies. Not just through dancing, but by people literally feeling good and getting chills listening to their favorite songs. Your heart beats differently, the skin on your arm bubbles with goosebumps, and whatever is troubling you seems to melt away. Listening to some songs can feel like a drug going through your system. Well, it turns out a recent Finnish university study shows that comparing music to a drug isn’t too far off.

A long-held scientific mystery is that music doesn’t appear to offer any true survival benefit, such as physical protection from predators or storing of calories, yet it is a part of every studied culture. Findings from research on music’s connection to the brain from Turku PET Centre and the University of Turku in Finland show through brain imaging that music activates the same natural opioid system that gives pleasurable feelings when eating delicious food or bonding with someone. For centuries, people reported feeling euphoric and pleasurable chills when listening to their favorite music, but now this study is zeroing in on the physical reasons why such feelings occur.

Keep ReadingShow less
Robin Williams, quotes, depression, mental health, Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, loneliness, suicide prevention, World's Greatest Dad, inspiration

Robin Williams performs at the 2008 USO World Gala in Washington, D.C.

Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy via Wikimedia Commons

7 beautiful quotes about depression from the great Robin Williams

It has been over a decade since the world lost Robin Williams, a comedic force of nature whose energy seemed inexhaustible. When he took his own life in 2014 after battles with depression and Lewy body dementia, the silence that followed was deafening. How could the man who brought us the Genie, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Mork be in such pain?

But looking back at his vast body of work—from his frantic stand-up sets to his tender dramatic roles—it is clear that Williams possessed a profound understanding of the human condition. He didn't just make us laugh; he made us feel seen, especially those of us who have struggled with our own darkness.

Keep ReadingShow less
skydiving, volunteer, time, money, happiness, purpose, Reddit, Redditors

Sky diving and volunteering at a food bank.

Photo credit Canva

People share the 5 things they say are actually more valuable than time or money

Many people consider money to be the most important ingredient for finding happiness. As we age, the power of time is discussed as possibly being even more important. However, what happens when people are asked to uncover the things that matter most if you take money and time off the table?

In a recent r/AskReddit thread, a valuable question was offered, "Except for time and money, what is the #1 thing you wish you had more?" The responses were rather insightful and reveal a great deal about what brings people happiness—and what they feel is lacking in their lives.

Keep ReadingShow less
social norms, conversation, social skills, meeting people, awkward encounters

People say these small social rules are "impossible" to follow.

Photo credit: Canva, Africa images (main image) / anlomaja (black box)

The super small social rules that people say are 'absolutely impossible' to follow

I suffer from situational awkwardness—a self-diagnosis, mind you, but one I feel pretty confident about, given the evidence. My ability to follow social norms fluctuates depending on the setting: the ages of the people I’m around, the general vibe of the people I’m around, how well we know each other, even the physical environment. (Is this a home game or an away game?) Basically, if I’m visiting a stranger’s house and meeting their rowdy kids for the first time, I will probably be a different person than if I’m hanging around my parents at a restaurant. I envy people who always seem comfortable in their own skin.

It’s probably no shock, then, that I find it difficult to follow certain social rules. (This also extends to the concept of unwritten rules—let’s all get on the same page so I can know exactly whom and how much I should be tipping, okay?) At least I’m not the only one who gets tripped up every once in a while. In a recent thread, strangers shared the seemingly minor situations that they find challenging.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kola Superdeep Borehole, deepest hole on Earth, Russia, geology, drilling, Mariana Trench, sounds of hell, Earth's crust, science mystery, China drilling

A large hole in the ground

Canva

Terrifying sounds captured from below the Earth as scientists were digging the deepest hole ever

It remains one of the most ambitious—and eerie—scientific projects in human history. While space agencies were racing to the moon, Soviet scientists were racing in the opposite direction: straight down.

The project, known as the Kola Superdeep Borehole SG-3, began in 1970 in the Pechengsky District of Russia, near the Norwegian border. The goal was simple yet massive: drill as deep into the Earth’s crust as technology would allow. By 1989, they had reached a staggering depth of 12,262 meters (40,230 feet).

Keep ReadingShow less
curiosity, conflict, conflict resolution, winning arguments, communication tips

A curious approach is a winning approach.

Photo credit: Canva

Psychology and business experts agree on one 'curious' key to winning arguments

Conflict happens whether we want it to or not—at work, at home, and everywhere in between. Some issues need to be addressed, yet many people struggle with how to do it. Depending on the situation, directly refuting or criticizing someone can escalate tensions, trigger defensiveness, or cause the other person to clam up entirely. However, beating around the bush won’t get the results you want either.

Many therapists, lawyers, and even hostage negotiators recommend one key strategy the next time you’re in that kind of situation: stay curious.

Keep ReadingShow less
aaron paul, smartphones, cell phone usage, technology, cell phones and kids

Aaron Paul recalls how his daughter made him rethink his smartphone use.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0

Aaron Paul recalls heartbreaking exchange with his daughter that made him rethink smartphone use

If you own a smartphone and aren’t addicted to it, I sincerely salute you from afar. It’s so easy to grow obsessed with the passive dopamine rush of browsing internet headlines and scrolling our social feeds.

In any brief moment of everyday silence—sitting in the dentist’s waiting room, riding in the passenger seat during an argument with my wife, even waiting for commercials to end during a TV show—I find my hand unconsciously reaching for my pocket. That feels…not normal, and I often think about the effect it must have on my relationships with friends and family. It’s not like magically rewinding the clock to the dial-up era would fix everything, but maybe certain situations call for leaving our phones undisturbed.

Keep ReadingShow less
studying tip, kindergartener, explain like I'm five, interview tip, knowledge

Explain it like they're five.

Photo credit: Canva

Big tech geniuses say the best way to learn complex subjects is to think like a kindergartner

Getting your mind ready for a presentation, job interview, or a test can be daunting, especially if you’re trying to master complex subjects. You want to showcase your knowledge and make sure that there aren’t any cracks or weak points. Well, business leaders, big tech companies, teachers, and everyday folks are saying the best way to see if you’re ready is to talk to a five-year-old.

“Explain like I’m 5” isn’t just a Reddit thread, but a great method to determine whether you actually know what you’re talking about. The studying technique dubbed “ELI5” allows your brain to break down complex topics into everyday comparisons and simple words. When you explain a subject out loud as if you’re teaching it to a kindergarten class, your brain naturally breaks the material into simplified steps, removes jargon, eliminates fluff, and fills in any gaps in logic. If you find yourself getting stuck at certain points in your translation of the topic, you’ll see the parts of the subject matter that you still don’t quite fully understand.

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2025