{"id":1886,"date":"2026-08-16T04:53:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T04:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/?p=1886"},"modified":"2026-08-16T04:53:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T04:53:01","slug":"athens-is-cleaning-its-all-marble-olympic-stadium-for-the-first-time-in-more-than-a-century-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/?p=1886","title":{"rendered":"Athens is cleaning its all-marble Olympic stadium for the first time in more than a century"},"content":{"rendered":"

An aerial view of the Panathenaic Stadium, also known as “Kallimarmaro, or beautiful marble,” which hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, is seen during renovation work in Athens, Greece, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (AP Photo\/Thanassis Stavrakis)<\/small><\/p>\n

2026-08-16T04:23:38Z<\/p>\n

ATHENS, Greece (AP) \u2014 It has welcomed marathon runners, rock stars and the first modern Olympic athletes. Now it\u2019s time for a monumental scrub.<\/p>\n

Athens\u2019 U-shaped Panathenaic Stadium \u2014 made entirely of white marble \u2014 is getting its first systematic cleaning in more than a century.<\/p>\n

Rebuilt for the first modern Olympics<\/a><\/span> in 1896, the site is the ceremonial send-off point for the Olympic flame, including for Los Angeles 2028<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

A fresh look in Athens ahead of LA 2028<\/h2>\n

The stadium is made of the same glittering marble used on the Acropolis<\/a><\/span>, making the cleanup job delicate.<\/p>\n

The work is revealing a monument changed by time, weather and millions of visitors. Cleaners in white and blue overalls move across the stadium\u2019s 47 steep tiers with thin spray lances, using clean water at carefully controlled, low pressure. Machines vacuum up the runoff as they go.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal of cleaning is not to make everything white. It\u2019s to remove the dirt and the first layers of organic material that are deposited on the surface,\u201d said Dimitris Selemis, a senior conservator at the site.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea is to clean all the material that (contains) dirt from the surface, so we have a better understanding of the monument,\u201d he said, noting that there is more weed growth and dirt in areas that receive less direct sunlight.<\/p>\n

Dealing with chewing gum, high heels and soft-drink stains<\/h2>\n

Crews are also using steam to remove blotches of chewing gum, which have turned black over time. Stadium officials say chewing gum, high heels and soft-drink stains are among the main culprits that stain the marble.<\/p>\n

Now slowly being revealed, the original gleaming look of the venue earned it the widely used Greek nickname \u201cKallimarmaro,\u201d or beautiful marble.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe call it Kallimarmaro because it is made of the finest marble, the best that was ever produced … We are very proud of it,\u201d Isidoros Kouvelos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, told The Associated Press in an interview.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt needed to be cleaned of everything that has accumulated over all these years,\u201d he said. \u201cThis way the Panathenaic Stadium will show all its brilliance and will once again be the foremost monument of humanity for the Olympic Movement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Built into a natural ravine, the stadium\u2019s site was used for ancient Greek athletic contests and later Roman spectacles before falling into centuries of disuse.<\/p>\n

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