Athens' marble stadium gets first major cleaning in over a century

The Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece, a U-shaped structure made entirely of white marble, is currently undergoing its first systematic cleaning in more than a century. This iconic venue, rebuilt for the first modern Olympics in 1896, has served as the ceremonial send-off point for the Olympic flame, including for the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Games. The cleaning project, which began recently and is expected to continue through 2026, is focused on removing dirt, organic material, and stains that have accumulated over decades of use and exposure to weather and millions of visitors.

The cleaning process is delicate because the stadium is constructed from the same type of marble used on the Acropolis. Conservators are using clean water at carefully controlled low pressure, applied through thin spray lances, while machines vacuum up the runoff to prevent damage. The goal, according to senior conservator Dimitris Selemis, is not to make the marble perfectly white but to remove surface dirt and the first layers of organic material, allowing a better understanding of the monument. Areas with less direct sunlight have more weed growth and dirt accumulation. Crews are also using steam to remove blackened chewing gum stains, which, along with high heels and soft-drink spills, are among the main culprits staining the marble.

The project is privately funded by a shipping company and overseen by the Hellenic Olympic Committee, with guidance from Culture Ministry experts. The current phase concentrates on the stadium's curved end, known as the "sling," in preparation for the next torch-passing ceremony on September 10, 2026. That ceremony will mark the start of the Olympic flame relay for the Dakar Youth Olympics, scheduled for October 31 to November 13 in Senegal, which will be the first Olympic competition ever hosted in Africa. Isidoros Kouvelos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, expressed pride in the stadium, which he called "Kallimarmaro" because it is made of the finest marble ever produced. He noted that the cleaning was necessary to remove everything that had accumulated over the years.

Since its revival in 1896, the stadium has hosted not only Olympic events but also fashion shows, rock concerts, boxing matches, and national celebrations, including lavish patriotic ceremonies ordered by a military dictatorship in the 1960s. The cleaning is revealing a monument changed by time, weather, and human activity, and the work is expected to restore its original splendor while preserving its historical integrity. The upcoming ceremony on September 10 will also be attended by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, a swimming gold medalist from Zimbabwe, according to Kouvelos.