Sofia's forgotten Soviet sports complexes, pools, and stadiums

The video pans across the interior of an abandoned, dilapidated indoor swimming pool facility. The space is in a state of disrepair, with graffiti covering most surfaces, including the concrete walls, bleachers, and the empty pool itself. Sunlight streams through large, grimy windows that offer a view of overgrown trees and buildings outside. In the center of the facility, the main swimming pool is visible, a rectangular concrete structure filled with debris and dirt. A diving platform, also appearing weathered and neglected, stands at one end of the pool. Surrounding the pool are concrete bleacher-style seating areas, also heavily graffitied. The ceiling appears to be made of exposed concrete beams and metal supports, with some sections covered by a gray, reflective material. The overall impression is one of decay and abandonment, with the graffiti adding a layer of urban art to the otherwise desolate scene.

The image shows the abandoned swimming complex of the Vasil Levski National Sports Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria. The complex features two large, empty swimming pools, one of which is filled with dark, stagnant water and debris, including what appears to be a broken chair. The pools are surrounded by concrete structures and weathered seating areas. The walls of the surrounding buildings and the pool edges are covered in graffiti. In the background, a large, Brutalist-style building with angular concrete panels, also adorned with graffiti, dominates the skyline. Trees and vegetation are visible around the complex and in front of the background building. The sky is blue with scattered clouds, indicating daytime.

This media file depicts an abandoned stadium under a partly cloudy sky, likely at dusk. The scene is dominated by weathered concrete stadium seating, overgrown with sparse vegetation. In the background, a tall, multi-story building stands derelict, adorned with graffiti. Two large stadium floodlights are visible, one to the left and another further back, towering over the structure. The overall mood is one of decay and desolation, amplified by the fading light. The sky features dramatic crepuscular rays filtering through the clouds. While no people are visible, the setting implies past human activity, now replaced by nature's reclamation. Graffiti on the building includes the text "XOH" and "HCKC." The location is identified as Sofia, Bulgaria.

The image depicts an abandoned outdoor swimming pool complex in Sofia, Bulgaria, with dilapidated buildings and graffiti-covered structures in the background. In the foreground, concrete bleachers are weathered and overgrown with weeds. A light blue metal railing separates the bleachers from the empty pool area. The pool itself is empty, with bright blue tiles lining its bottom and sides, some of which are cracked or missing. The pool area is heavily adorned with colorful graffiti, as are the surrounding concrete surfaces. In the mid-ground, a long, low building with broken windows and more graffiti stretches along the side of the pool. Behind this building, a dense line of trees separates the pool complex from the background. To the left of the pool complex, a tall, multi-story building stands abandoned, with numerous windows and balconies, also covered in graffiti. A metal scaffolding structure is attached to the side of this building. To the far right of the image, several large, Brutalist-style concrete buildings are visible, also featuring some graffiti and inscriptions, including "VULGAR" and "15-YEARS". The sky above is a pale blue with scattered white clouds. The overall scene conveys a sense of decay and abandonment in an urban environment.

The image depicts the interior of a derelict building, likely an abandoned swimming pool or sports facility, in Sofia, Bulgaria. The structure is characterized by a large, open space with a concrete frame and extensive floor-to-ceiling windows, many of which are broken. Sunlight streams through the windows, illuminating the interior and highlighting the decay. Dominating the center of the frame is a multi-level concrete structure, possibly a diving platform or spectator seating, covered in graffiti. The graffiti is in various colors and styles, some appearing freshly applied, others faded. A narrow metal staircase is visible leading upwards within this structure. In the foreground, a man wearing a dark gray tank top and black shorts stands on a concrete platform. He is holding a smartphone in his right hand and looking towards the right side of the frame. His stance suggests he is observing something or taking a picture. The environment outside the windows is lush with green trees and vegetation, indicating an outdoor setting surrounding the building. In the distance, a modern city skyline is visible, with tall buildings suggesting the proximity of an urban area. The overall impression is one of abandonment and the encroachment of nature into an man-made structure.

This is an image of an abandoned, graffiti-covered indoor stadium. The scene is desolate and dilapidated, with concrete structures showing signs of decay. The ceiling is a network of concrete beams and slabs with square openings. Sunlight streams in from large windows on the left, illuminating the dusty floor covered in debris and scattered litter. The stadium appears to have multiple levels of seating or tiered platforms, all heavily adorned with graffiti in various colors and styles. Staircases lead up to higher levels, and the lower level features a series of rectangular openings. There are no people visible in the image. The overall mood is one of abandonment and decay, with the vibrant graffiti offering a stark contrast to the grim surroundings. Some visible text includes "SWAG," "BOG," "161," and other illegible tags and symbols. The graffiti appears to be a mix of spray paint and marker. The time of day appears to be late afternoon or early evening, given the long shadows cast by the sunlight. The location is identified as Sofia, Bulgaria.

The image captures a scene in what appears to be an abandoned or derelict area, possibly a former industrial site or complex, in Sofia, Bulgaria. The setting is characterized by decaying concrete structures adorned with vibrant graffiti. In the mid-ground, a person wearing a grey t-shirt and black shorts is standing and holding up what seems to be a camera or a phone, possibly taking a photo or recording. They are positioned on an elevated platform or walkway, facing away from the viewer. The background features a line of tall, slender trees against a bright blue sky with scattered clouds, suggesting it is daytime, likely late afternoon given the sun's angle and the lens flare visible through the trees on the left. The ground in the foreground is a mixture of cracked concrete, rubble, and dirt. The overall impression is one of urban decay and exploration, with the graffiti adding a layer of artistic vandalism to the somber environment.

The image depicts an abandoned, multi-story building with a prominent scoreboard on its facade. The scoreboard displays a clock and the word "LONGINES." The building exhibits signs of decay, including broken windows and graffiti covering various surfaces. The surrounding area appears neglected, with overgrown vegetation and a paved walkway. In the background, other buildings and a cloudy sky are visible. The context suggests this is the former "Balkantourist" hotel building, located in the city center of Sofia, Bulgaria.

This is a photograph of the former stadium "Vasil Levski" in Sofia, Bulgaria, showing its disrepair and extensive graffiti. The focus is on the scoreboard structure, which is a large, dark panel with numerous small squares, likely for displaying information. A clock face is visible at the top of the scoreboard, along with the words "MIN SEK 1/100" and the brand name "LONGINES" in white lettering. Below the scoreboard, there are open, dilapidated sections of a building with exposed brick and peeling paint. The lower part of the image features a wall covered in vibrant and aggressive graffiti, including cartoonish figures and abstract designs. A portion of a man's head and shoulder is visible on the left side, looking down and to his left, with sunglasses perched on his head. The overall scene depicts urban decay and neglect, juxtaposed with the bold street art.

The image depicts an outdoor scene with a blue sky filled with white clouds. In the foreground, there are stadium-like bleachers, partially overgrown with greenery. Several tall stadium floodlights are visible, positioned behind the bleachers. To the right, a modern, multi-story building stands, appearing to be an apartment complex or office building, with some graffiti visible on its facade. The sun is setting or rising, casting a bright glare and lens flare across the scene, particularly near the right side of the image and behind one of the floodlight towers. The overall impression is of an urban area with an abandoned or disused sports facility, likely in Sofia, Bulgaria, given the architectural style and the presence of the building with Cyrillic writing. There are no people or animals visible in the image.

This image depicts the exterior of a dilapidated concrete structure, likely a former bus stop shelter, situated in a green, overgrown area. The concrete facade features a decorative, interlocking pattern of stylized "J" shapes, now heavily graffitied with black and pink spray paint. Some of the graffiti appears to be in Cyrillic script. To the right of the concrete structure, a section of brick wall is visible, also covered in graffiti with yellow and purple spray paint. The ground in front of the structure is covered with tall, dry grass and other vegetation, suggesting neglect. The overall scene conveys a sense of abandonment and decay within an urban or suburban fringe setting. This structure is located in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The image shows the abandoned stadium "Lokomotiv" in Sofia, Bulgaria. The stadium is in a state of disrepair, with overgrown vegetation covering the stands and graffiti adorning the walls. Tall floodlight towers stand silhouetted against a blue sky with scattered clouds. In the background, a multi-story building, also appearing abandoned and covered in graffiti, looms over the scene. The setting sun casts a warm glow through the clouds, suggesting it is either sunrise or sunset. The overall atmosphere is one of decay and abandonment.