The Athens 2004 Olympic Badminton Hall has been destroyed by a major fire, bringing a dramatic end to one of the Games' most recognisable venues after years of uncertainty over its future.
The blaze broke out late on Sunday and caused the roof of the former Olympic venue to collapse. Nearly 40 firefighters and 13 fire engines were deployed to contain the fire, which was eventually brought under control in the early hours of Monday.
Authorities confirmed there were no injuries.
Built as a temporary venue for the 2004 Olympic Games, the badminton hall was located within the Olympic complex and originally cost more than €20 million (RM93 million) to construct. After the Games, it was converted into a concert and entertainment venue at an additional cost of around €16 million (RM74.4 million).
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During its years as a performance venue, it hosted internationally acclaimed productions including *Cats* and *Mamma Mia!*. However, its commercial use became the subject of legal challenges.
In 2012, Greece's highest administrative court ruled that the conversion violated building regulations and ordered the structure to be demolished. Despite the ruling, the venue remained standing for more than a decade as legal and administrative issues delayed any action.
The building's 20-year lease expired in April this year, leaving its long-term future unresolved before the fire brought its story to an unexpected end.
The destruction of the former Olympic venue has renewed attention on the challenges many host cities face in maintaining and repurposing infrastructure built for major sporting events. Once a symbol of Athens' Olympic ambitions, the badminton hall had become an example of the difficulties involved in finding sustainable long-term uses for expensive sporting facilities after the Games conclude.
