Athens is cleaning its all-marble Olympic stadium for the first time in more than a century

Athens is undertaking a comprehensive cleaning of its iconic marbled Olympic stadium for the first time in over a century. Known as the Panathenaic Stadium, the U-shaped structure made entirely of white marble was rebuilt specifically for the first modern Olympics in 1896 and has since served as the ceremonial send-off point for Olympic flames, including the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The cleaning process utilizes thin spray lances to dispense clean water at controlled low pressure across the stadium's 47 steep tiers. Machines equipped with vacuum systems are employed to remove the runoff as it accumulates. According to senior conservator Dimitris Selemis, the objective is not to whiten the marble but to eliminate dirt and organic material that has accumulated over time and through millions of visitors.

The team has taken special care to address problem areas, such as spots stained by chewing gum, high heels, and soft drink residues.

Representative of the stadium's pristine marble appearance is its Greek nickname "Kallimarmaro," which translates to "beautiful marble." Isidoros Kouvelos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, expressed pride in the stadium's potential restoration to its former glory. The preservation effort involves upgrading the track, enhancing lighting, and improving support facilities.

These improvements are privately funded by a shipping company and overseen by the Hellenic Olympic Committee, with guidance from Culture Ministry experts.

The ongoing restoration project is projected to continue through 2026 but is currently focused on the stadium's curved "sling" section, ahead of the Dakar Youth Olympics. The Dakar event will be the first Olympic competition ever held in Africa, with IOC President Kirsty Coventry, a Zimbabwean gold medalist, set to attend the Sept. 10 ceremony marking the torch's passage through Senegal.