23 October 2025 – An updated analysis of venues shows that 86 per cent of all permanent venues used at the Olympic Games since Athens 1896, and 94 per cent of those from the 21st century, are still in use today. Building on the original 2022 report, the updated study now includes venues from Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022, highlighting how the Games continue to deliver lasting benefits for their host communities.
Released today at the Olympic Legacy Forum in PyeongChang, Republic of Korea, the updated “Over 125 years of Olympic venues: post-Games use” report examines 982 venues that have hosted medal events, opening and closing ceremonies, and Olympic villages across 53 editions of the Games, from Athens 1896 to Beijing 2022.
The use of Olympic venues is multi-purpose, from sports activities such as training and competition to non-sport uses including culture, leisure, community and business.
“We’re proud to confirm that 86 per cent of Olympic venues remain in use today — a clear proof of the Games’ long-term legacy,” said IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi. “The results speak for themselves: recent editions are creating stronger, more sustainable legacies for host cities and their communities, and we hope that each new edition will continue to build on this.”
“By studying how past Olympic venues are used after the Games, we’ve identified strategies to maximise their long-term value,” said IOC Sustainability Director Marie Sallois. “Year-round, multi-purpose use keeps facilities active and relevant. By prioritising existing or temporary venues and building only when there’s a clear, long-term need, host cities can align the Games with their development goals.”
Spotlight on two new Games editions
100 per cent of all permanent venues from Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 still in use
- All 33 permanent venues from Tokyo 2020 are still in use, including five venues from the 1964 Games such as Yoyogi National Stadium and the Equestrian Park. Each venue has an operator and a legacy plan, hosting events for local communities and elite athletes, from fitness and taster sessions to international competitions.
- All 16 permanent venues from the Beijing 2022 Games — including 12 competition venues, four of which were originally built for Beijing 2008 and later repurposed for ice sports — continue to operate. Multi-purpose and active all year-round, they host sporting, cultural and recreational activities, support elite athletes, and serve local communities.
Other key findings
- Eighty-seven per cent of complex venues (Olympic stadiums, Olympic villages, swimming pools, velodromes, ski jumping hills, sliding centres and ice hockey stadiums) are still in use.
- Permanent venues, whether newly built or existing, remain in use at similar rates.
- The proportion of temporary venues has increased in the 21st century to avoid building permanent structures when there is no long-term need.
Maximising long-term benefits for the hosts
In line with the IOC’s Olympic Agenda, the Games aim to adapt to the host territories and help accelerate their long-term development plans while minimising their footprint. Paris 2024 used 95 per cent existing or temporary venues, which allowed the organisers to cut their carbon footprint in half compared to London 2012 and Rio 2016. Milano Cortina 2026 will spread events across existing sites, minimising new construction while building on Italy’s expertise in hosting world-class competitions; while Los Angeles 2028 will stage the Games without building a single new permanent venue, embracing a “radical reuse” approach that maximises efficiency and sustainability.
