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The Panathenaic stadium in Athens was the venue for the first Olympic Games in 1896, though this stadium was first built in 330 BC for the Panathenaic Games. It was rebuilt in 144 AD using marble and had a capacity of 50,000 seats.

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The stadium has been used several times for the modern Olympic Games. In 1896 it was the main stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies, and the venue for 4 of the 9 contested sports. Ten years later it was the main stadium of the only Intercalated Games held in 1906. For the 2004 Athens Olympics, the stadium was used for the archery competition and the finish of the marathons.

The record attendance for an event at the stadium is 80,000, for a football match between AEK Athens and Slavia Prague in 1968.

Major Events Held at the Olympic Stadium

Here are just some of the major events that have been held at the Athens Panathenaic Stadium:

• 1870 and 1875 - hosted the Zappas Olympics
• 1896 - first modern Olympics
• 1997 - World Championships in Athletics, opening ceremony
• 2004 - Athens Olympic Games
• 2011 - Special Olympics World Summer Games, opening ceremony

Trivia

• It is the only stadium in the world built entirely out of marble.
• It is the finishing point for the annual Athens Classic Marathon.
• It is the last location in Greece from where the Olympic flame every four years is handed over to the host nation.

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Related Pages

• Olympic Games stadiums, including the 2004 Athlens Olympic Stadium
• Panathinaiko is listed as one of our 7 Wonders of the Sporting World.
• Other stadiums in Greece
• All stadiums list
• Top-10 largest stadiums in the world
• sport in Greece