8 Olympics that were financial flops
8. Moscow, Summer Olympics 1980
Only about a quarter of the 300,000 expected visitors showed up for the games because of the U.S.-led boycott, costing organizers a considerable amount of money. Although it is nearly impossible to estimate all the costs, which included the renovation of Lenin Stadium and dozens of other sports facilities, construction of hotels, and improving the metro system, Moscow’s mayor in 1980 said that the city spent about $2 billion on the games.
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