Athens is cleaning its all-marble Olympic stadium for the first time in more than a century
Athens’ iconic Panathenaic Stadium is undergoing its first systematic cleaning in more than a century. The U-shaped stadium, built entirely from white marble and rebuilt for the first modern Olympics in 1896, is being…
Source: Associated Press · August 16, 2026 at 6:28 PM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 17 AUGUST 2026 —
ATHENS, Aug 16 (Reuters) – Athens’ Panathenaic Stadium, the historic venue built entirely from white marble and host to the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, is undergoing its first systematic cleaning in more than a century.
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The U-shaped stadium, also known as Kallimarmaro or "beautiful marble," is being meticulously restored using low-pressure water and steam to remove accumulated dirt, organic material, weeds, and decades-old chewing gum without damaging the historic stone.
The stadium, constructed from the same marble as the Acropolis, has served as the ceremonial send-off point for the Olympic flame, including for the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Games. The cleaning process, led by conservators, aims to restore the monument’s original gleam while preserving its historical integrity. Workers are using thin spray lances to apply clean water at controlled pressure, with machines vacuuming up runoff as they progress through the stadium’s 47 steep tiers.
Dimitris Selimis, a senior conservator at the site, emphasized that the goal is not to bleach the marble but to remove surface layers of dirt and organic deposits. "The idea is to clean all the material that contains dirt from the surface, so we have a better understanding of the monument," Selimis said. Areas with less sunlight have shown more weed growth and dirt accumulation, while chewing gum stains—blackened over time—are being treated with steam.
The stadium, built into a natural ravine, has hosted ancient Greek athletic contests, Roman spectacles, fashion shows, rock concerts, and national celebrations, including lavish ceremonies during the 1960s military dictatorship. Today, it remains a major tourist attraction.
Alongside the cleaning, the venue is also receiving a new track, upgraded lighting, and fresh support facilities, with the project privately funded by a shipping company and overseen by the Hellenic Olympic Committee in collaboration with Culture Ministry experts.
The restoration work is scheduled to continue through 2026, with current efforts focused on the stadium’s curved end, or "sling," ahead of the next Olympic flame-passing ceremony on Sept. 10. This ceremony will mark the start of the Dakar Youth Olympics, scheduled for Oct. 31–Nov. 13 in Senegal—the first Olympic competition ever held in Africa.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry, a swimming gold medalist from Zimbabwe, is expected to attend the event, according to Isidoros Kouvelos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee.
Kouvelos highlighted the stadium’s cultural significance, noting that its original gleaming appearance earned it the nickname Kallimarmaro. "We call it Kallimarmaro because it is made of the finest marble, the best that was ever produced," he said. "It needed to be cleaned of everything that has accumulated over all these years. This way, the Panathenaic Stadium will show all its brilliance and will once again be the foremost monument of humanity for the Olympic Movement."