Athens' Marble Olympic Stadium Gets First Deep Clean in Over 100 Years

Athens' U-shaped Panathenaic Stadium, a landmark built entirely of white marble, is undergoing a monumental cleaning for the first time in more than a century. The stadium, which has hosted marathon runners, rock stars, and the first modern Olympic athletes, is also the ceremonial send-off point for the Olympic flame.

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The goal of cleaning is not to make everything white. It’s to remove the dirt and the first layers of organic material that are deposited on the surface.

The cleaning process is delicate due to the stadium's marble, which is the same material used on the Acropolis. Conservators are using thin spray lances with clean water at low pressure, vacuuming runoff as they work. "The goal of cleaning is not to make everything white. It’s to remove the dirt and the first layers of organic material that are deposited on the surface," explained Dimitris Selemis, a senior conservator. He added that the aim is to gain a better understanding of the monument by cleaning off accumulated dirt and organic matter, noting that areas with less sunlight accumulate more dirt and weeds.

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The idea is to clean all the material that (contains) dirt from the surface, so we have a better understanding of the monument.

Crews are also employing steam to remove stubborn black stains from chewing gum, identified alongside high heels and soft-drink spills as primary culprits for staining the marble. The venue, affectionately known by its Greek nickname “Kallimarmaro,” meaning “beautiful marble,” is slowly revealing its original gleaming appearance. "We call it Kallimarmaro because it is made of the finest marble, the best that was ever produced ... We are very proud of it," said Isidoros Kouvelos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee. He emphasized the need to clean the stadium of accumulated debris to showcase its brilliance as a foremost monument of the Olympic Movement.

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We call it Kallimarmaro because it is made of the finest marble, the best that was ever produced ... We are very proud of it.

Beyond the cleaning, the stadium is receiving a new track, improved lighting, and updated support facilities. This comprehensive renovation is privately funded by a shipping company and is being managed by the Hellenic Olympic Committee with expert guidance from the Culture Ministry. While the work is slated to continue until 2026, current efforts are concentrated on the stadium's curved end to ensure readiness for the next torch-passing ceremony on September 10.

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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.