It probably says something unfortunate about my aesthetic, but I've always liked the 1984 Olympic design aesthetic — bright and colorful and eye-catching within the cityscape.
I guess what strikes me most today about this particular Olympiad was the lack of post-Olympic ghost towns and huge, decaying venues. It's possible to do the Olympics with some major construction that's reused afterwards (I know London made a seriously determined effort in this direction), but too often the plans are all focused on the Big Event … and everything (even assuming it was completed) falls apart thereafter. Sochi isn't even making it to opening day completed and intact, and I suspect that in twenty years it will be a ghost town.
Reshared post from +Gizmodo
This is how you Olympics:
How L.A.’s 1984 Summer Olympics Became the Most Successful Games Ever
It’s almost showtime for Sochi, which may or may not have its shit together by the time the opening ceremonies start. While it’s too late for Sochi to change its trajectory, perhaps the 2016 host city could jot down a few tips from what are widely considered to be the most successful Olympics ever: L.A., 1984.