Every four years, there are hundreds of cities clamoring to host the Olympics. But hosting the world's biggest international sporting event comes with a slew of challenges, including building significant athletic infrastructure that might become obsolete the moment the games end.

Many cities don't know what to do with their new stuff once the spotlight leaves, and dozens have let their villages go to waste. 

Once vibrant meccas of life, here are 22 abandoned Olympic villages that have gone eerily silent.