Beijing's deserted Olympic sites A sign stands at a deserted field showing where the stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games baseball compe...

Beijing's deserted Olympic sites

A sign stands at a deserted field showing where the stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games baseball competition once stood in central Beijing March 30, 2012. The gigantic infrastructures built for the Beijing Olympics, namely the "Bird's Nest", and the National Aquatics Centre, also known as the "Water Cube", are now used for cultural and sports events, reminding the world of the flare that blazed during the summer of 2008. However, some other Beijing Olympic venues, such as the rowing and kayaking centre, baseball arena and BMX track, have been left either deserted or been completely demolished. Picture taken March 30, 2012. ATTENTION EDITORS - 20 of 21 PICTURES FOR PACKAGE 'BEIJING'S DESERTED OLYMPIC SITES' REUTERS/David Gray (CHINA - Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS)

A car driven by a student of a driving school slowly moves around the carpark in front of the deserted 2008 Beijing Olympics venue for the cycling competition in central Beijing March 30, 2012. The gigantic infrastructures built for the Beijing Olympics, namely the National Stadium, better known as the "Bird's Nest", and the National Aquatics Center, better known as the "Water Cube", are now used for cultural and sports events, reminding the world of the flare that blazed during the summer of 2008. However, some other Beijing Olympic venues, such as the rowing and kayaking centre, baseball arena and BMX track, have been left either deserted or been completely demolished. Picture taken March 30, 2012. ATTENTION EDITORS - 15 of 21 PICTURES FOR PACKAGE 'BEIJING'S DESERTED OLYMPIC SITES' REUTERS/David Gray (CHINA - Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS)

The 2008 Beijing Olympics venue for the beach volleyball competition lies deserted and unmaintained in central Beijing April 2, 2012. The gigantic infrastructures built for the Beijing Olympics, namely the National Stadium, better known as the "Bird's Nest", and the National Aquatics Center, better known as the "Water Cube", are now used for cultural and sports events, reminding the world of the flare that blazed during the summer of 2008. However, some other Beijing Olympic venues, such as the rowing and kayaking centre, baseball arena and BMX track, have been left either deserted or been completely demolished. Picture taken April 2, 2012. ATTENTION EDITORS - 14 of 21 PICTURES FOR PACKAGE 'BEIJING'S DESERTED OLYMPIC SITES' REUTERS/David Gray (CHINA - Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

The deserted and unmaintained former venue for the kayaking competition of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, can be seen on the outskirts of Beijing March 27, 2012. The gigantic infrastructures built for the Beijing Olympics, namely the "Bird's Nest", and the National Aquatics Centre, also known as the "Water Cube", are now used for cultural and sports events, reminding the world of the flare that blazed during the summer of 2008. However, some other Beijing Olympic venues, such as the rowing and kayaking centre, baseball arena and BMX track, have been left either deserted or been completely demolished. Picture taken March 27, 2012. ATTENTION EDITORS - 7 of 21 PICTURES FOR PACKAGE 'BEIJING'S DESERTED OLYMPIC SITES' REUTERS/David Gray (CHINA - Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS)

A barrier tape bearing the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games logo stands out at the front of the deserted and unmaintained former venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games rowing competition, located on the outskirts of Beijing March 27, 2012. The gigantic infrastructures built for the Beijing Olympics, namely the "Bird's Nest", and the National Aquatics Centre, also known as the "Water Cube", are now used for cultural and sports events, reminding the world of the flare that blazed during the summer of 2008. However, some other Beijing Olympic venues, such as the rowing and kayaking centre, baseball arena and BMX track, have been left either deserted or been completely demolished. Picture taken March 27, 2012. ATTENTION EDITORS - 5 of 20 PICTURES FOR PACKAGE 'BEIJING'S DESERTED OLYMPIC SITES' REUTERS/David Gray (CHINA - Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS)

A woman walks past a security guard outside the National Stadium, also known as the "Bird's Nest", which was the venue for the athletics and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing March 23, 2012. The gigantic infrastructures built for the Beijing Olympics, namely the "Bird's Nest", and the National Aquatics Centre, also known as the "Water Cube", are now used for cultural and sports events, reminding the world of the flare that blazed during the summer of 2008. However, some other Beijing Olympic venues, such as the rowing and kayaking centre, baseball arena and BMX track, have been left either deserted or been completely demolished. Picture taken March 23, 2012. ATTENTION EDITORS - 2 of 21 PICTURES FOR PACKAGE 'BEIJING'S DESERTED OLYMPIC SITES' REUTERS/David Gray (CHINA - Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS)

The gigantic infrastructures built for the Beijing Olympics, namely the "Bird's Nest", and the National Aquatics Centre, also known as the "Water Cube", are now used for cultural and sports events, reminding the world of the flare that blazed during the summer of 2008. However, some other Beijing Olympic venues, such as the rowing and kayaking centre, baseball arena and BMX track, have been left either deserted or been completely demolished over the years.