GRCo25 - CAEC - HERITAGE - Panathenaic Stadium

The Panathenaic Stadium or Kallimarmaro is a multi-purpose stadium in Athens, Greece. One of the main historic attractions of Athens, it is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.

The stadium was built on the site of a simple racecourse by the Athenian statesman Lykourgos at 400 BC, primarily for the Panathenaic Games. It was rebuilt in marble by Herodes Atticus, an Athenian Roman senator, by 144 AD it had a capacity of 50,000 seats. After being refurbished, it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympics in 1896 and was the venue for 4 of the 9 contested sports (Athletics, Gymnastics, Weightlifting and Wrestling). The stadium was filled with an estimated 80,000 spectators.

It was used for various purposes in the 20th century and was once again used as an Olympic venue in 2004.It is the finishing point for the annual Athens Classic Marathon. It is also the last venue in Greece from where the Olympic flame handover ceremony to the host nation takes place

The teachers had the unique opportunity to visit the Panathenaic Stadium, the historic venue where the first modern Olympic Games were held. Walking through this iconic landmark, they truly felt the spirit of the Olympic ideals come alive. They even jogged along the marble track, following in the footsteps of legendary Olympians who once competed there, and stood in the very places where world-famous athletes made history. The experience offered a powerful connection between the past and the present, allowing the visitors to appreciate the global importance of this monument. After exploring the stadium, the teachers continued their visit at the Olympic Museum, where they discovered valuable exhibits and rare treasures from the first Olympic Games in Greece. Through this journey, they gained deeper insight into the origins of the Olympic movement and its lasting cultural impact.