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Winter Olympics venue now a PRISON that housed famous rapper and cartel member

This iconic Winter Olympics venue temporarily housed world-record holders but is now home to inmates after being converted into a prison

[A picture of Federal Correctional Institution, Ray Brook]

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This former Olympic village is still a federal prison(Image: Federal Bureau of Prisons)

The 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid produced a sporting miracle and a broken world record. But the village where these athletes were housed is now a federal prison.

Sporting greats descended on the tiny village of Lake Placid, New York in 1980 as the winter sports hub organised its second Games. The destination had hosted the event in 1932, the first Winter Games held outside Europe.

The 1980 renewal produced one of the most iconic sporting moments in American history with the 'Miracle on Ice', when the USA's lowly ice hockey team toppled the four-time defending champion Soviet Union and eventually won gold amid Cold War tensions.

American speed skater Eric Heiden also claimed an unprecedented five gold medals in a single Games that year. He set Olympic records in all five events from the 500m sprint upwards and a world record in the 10,000m.

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These athletes were housed in rural area, but because Lake Placid did not have the budget for a temporary village, a rather unusual decision was made. The former Olympic venue is now and was designed to be the Ray Brook Federal Correctional Institution, named after the hamlet it was built in.

When Lake Placid won the rights to host the 1980 Winter Games, it also secured federal funding to build its village. A sum of $28million (12m in 1980) was allocated to organisers, but on one condition.

After the Games had concluded, this facility had to have another practical use. The search began for a federal agency that could occupy the building and eventually a solution was found.

[The Olympic village with flags at Lake Placid 1980]

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The Olympic village was to become a prison when it was built(Image: Getty)

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Conversations between members of Congress and the Federal Bureau of Prisons led to an agreement to build this new facility, which would later be used as a correctional institution. The deal was struck, but not everyone approved of the plan.

[The U.S. ice hockey team rushes toward goalie Jim Craig after their 4-3 upset win over the Soviet Union in a medal round match at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid]

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The 'Miracle on Ice' took place at the 1980 Games(Image: AP)

Local protestors fought back against the village being later used as a prison and members of competing nations were also not impressed. Yet the village plans went forward and it was built in the town of North Elba, about seven miles outside of Lake Placid.

The 937 sleeping rooms housed athletes from around the world but they would later be turned into cells. Even before this, though, these rooms were only 8-by-13 feet and had steel doors and small windows.

[The 1980 Olympic village before it became a prison]

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The venue wasn't given the best reviews by athletes(Image: Getty)

Many athletes refused to stay in the venue and instead rented out homes in the Lake Placid area. The West German team even complained that the conditions in the village were taking a psychological toll on them.

But the Games were a hit and just six months after they concluded, the Department of Justice seals were up and inmates had moved in. The Federal prison is still operational, can accommodate up to 1,000 prisoners and by general standards is well-equipped.

It has a game room, a 350-seat theatre, a world-class gym and a high-end running track. Some infamous names have been housed at FCI Ray Brook, including rapper Ja Rule and Tijuana Cartel leader Eduardo Arellano-Felix.

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