What remains of the Olímpico: Grêmio’s old ground hosts ashes and police firearms drills | OneFootball

Grêmio’s former home, the Estádio Olímpico Monumental, has stood silent since 2014 yet still hosts police training, farewell ceremonies and fan events.

Set in Porto Alegre’s Azenha district, its graffiti and overgrowth suggest abandonment. According to Globo.com, the club still oversees the Velho Casarão and employs 24-hour private security.

With tall vegetation and little footfall, the grounds suit hostile environments, so the Military Police, Fire Brigade and Civil Police conduct firearms training with the club’s permission. Shots are audible but pose no risk to the community.

The Olímpico has taken on other roles too, serving as a Carris bus garage and a donation hub during floods in the state. Last year it reopened for the club’s 121st anniversary, and this year hosted a New Balance shirt clue hunt for supporters.

The ground has also become a place of goodbyes. Families of deceased supporters request to scatter ashes, handled case by case, with some approved. Ceremonies are discreet, a relative leaves the ashes near a tree by the former supplementary pitch, and such tributes have been frequent in recent years.

Nostalgia still draws visitors who try to capture images or take mementoes, though entry is usually barred for safety. There have been exceptions, including a tourist from Senegal who asked security to let him in, and visitors come from across Brazil and abroad.

Ruined yet resonant, the Olímpico now bridges the club’s past and present.

Source: Globo.com