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Athens is cleaning its all-marble Olympic stadium for the first time in more than a century
Cleaners are restoring the marble venue and adding a new track, with work set to continue through 2026, officials said.
- The U-shaped Panathenaic Stadium in Athens is undergoing its first systematic cleaning in over a century, revealing the original gleaming marble that earned it the Greek nickname "Kallimarmaro."
- Conservator Dimitris Selemis said the project removes "dirt and the first layers of organic material" to better understand the monument. The site has accumulated debris for decades since its 1896 Olympic revival.
- Privately funded by a shipping company, crews in white and blue overalls clean the stadium's 47 steep tiers using low-pressure water. The Culture Ministry oversees the operation to preserve the marble's integrity.
- Ahead of the Sept. 10 torch-passing ceremony, crews are concentrating on the stadium's "sling," or curved end. This event precedes the Dakar Youth Olympics, the first Olympic competition ever hosted in Africa.
- Beyond the cleanup, the venue is receiving a new track, upgraded lighting, and fresh support facilities through 2026. The modernization positions the historic stadium for future global events, including Los Angeles 2028.
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The Olympic Stadium in Athens is undergoing a major cleanup, the largest in over a century. The white marble it is made of is set to be given a whiter look. The stadium underwent extensive renovations in 1896 and has been the ceremonial site of the Olympic flame for many years, and it will never be the same again...
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Total News Sources53
Leaning Left7Leaning Right5Center39Last UpdatedBias Distribution76% Center
Bias Distribution
- 76% of the sources are Center
76% Center
14%
C 76%
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