Dissolution of the USSR: Abandoned Eshera Sports Complex in Abkhazia
Currently, the sports centre and the land it is on belongs to the Abkhazian government. With Russian backing, of course, there have been discussions for near on a decade now about turning it back into a top-notch sports facility once more but, to date nothing has materialised and this vast and once-impressive vestige of the USSR stands isolated and empty.
I was tempted to add that it sits there, a large blot on the landscape but, because of the war, Abkhazia has so many buildings in a similar condition that it would be unfair to highlight just this particular one.
Photos of Abandoned Eshera Sports Complex
Abandoned Eshera Sports Complex Drone View
How To Get To the Abandoned Eshera Sports Complex
Traveling to Abandoned Eshera Sports Complex is possible by air from any city of the world to the Sochi International Airport, Russian Federation.
- To get from Sochi (Russian Federation) to Abandoned Eshera Sports Complex you should cross the Russian-Abkhaz border, which is about 30 min. drive from the airport (without traffic).
- To get from the Sochi International Airport to Abandoned Eshera Sports Complex, you can take taxi upon arrival to the airport or order it in the taxi services of Abkhazia.
- Having done a taxi reservation in advance in Abkhazia, you ensure yourself a smooth moving from Sochi airport to any city of Abandoned Eshera Sports Complex across the border.
What is Eshera Sports Complex?
Abandoned Eshera Sports Complex was the Central Olympic Base of the USSR, as it was officially known, was one of the most important multi-sports training centers in the entire Soviet Union. There were many facilities on the base including four football pitches, a gymnasium, basketball courts, running tracks, a 50-meter Olympic-size swimming pool, and living quarters for the athletes.
Who trained at the Eshera Sports Complex?
A high percentage of the athletes who took part in the famously known 1980 Summer Olympics, which were held in Moscow, trained at the Central Olympic Base of the USSR in Eshera.
When was the Eshera Sports Complex abandoned?
The Eshera Sports Complex became abandoned after the Abkhazia-Georgia conflict which took place between August 1992 and September 1993.
The stunning photos at Crimea, Russia were taken by Nordskif & Co. Nordskif & Co are professional photographers and urban explorers, which share their stories with followers.
If you’d like to see more abandoned places in Abkhazia or discover Soviet history, then check out our articles on the Ghost Town in the snowy mountains of Abkhazia and the Abandoned Sukhumi Babushara Airport in Abkhazia
