Venues of the 2004 Summer Olympics
Encyclopedia
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, a total of thirty-four sports venues were used. Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
hosted the first modern Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
in 1896
1896 Summer Olympics
The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Athens, Greece, from April 6 to April 15, 1896. It was the first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era...
that included venues such as Panathinaiko Stadium
Panathinaiko Stadium
The Panathinaiko or Panathenaic Stadium , also known as the Kallimarmaro , is an athletic stadium in Athens that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896...
and the city of Marathon
Marathon, Greece
Marathon is a town in Greece, the site of the battle of Marathon in 490 BC, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians. The tumulus or burial mound for the 192 Athenian dead that was erected near the battlefield remains a feature of the coastal plain...
for whom the long-distance race
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
would be named for. From the end of the 1896 Games until the late 1970s, Greece underwent numerous political changes
History of modern Greece
The history of modern Greece covers the history of Greece from the recognition of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1832 after the Greek War of Independence to the present day.- Background :In 1821, the Greeks rose up against the Ottoman Empire...
that included the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
, two World War
World war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
s, a civil war
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
, and a military coup that resulted in a junta that lasted from 1967 to 1974. A change in democracy in 1975 resulted in Greece's admission into the European Economic Community (European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
since 1993) in 1979. Athens first bid for the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
as part of the 100th anniversary of the Modern Olympics, but was upset by Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
in the United States for the Games in 1990. Seven years later, Athens won the right to host the 2004 Summer Olympics. At the time of the award, 75% of competition and 92% of training venues were available though a massive construction and renovation program was taken to get the venues ready for the games. Accessibility and environmental issues were taken into account in venue design and construction. The marathon course used was the same one used for the 1896 Games though it was 2.195 km (1.4 mi) longer to the marathon not being standardized until 1924. Canoe slalom's venue at Ellinikon
Ellinikon
Ellinikon is a suburb of Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Elliniko-Argyroupoli, of which it is a municipal unit....
was the first using saltwater, having it pumped in from the Agean Sea. After the Olympics, Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre
Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre
The Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre was the site of the shooting events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The venue is located in Markópoulo, on the outskirts of the eastern suburbs of Athens. It has a seating capacity of 4,000, though a public capacity of only 2,330 for the Olympics...
was converted into a police training center while two other venues were converted into entertainment centers.
OAKAAthens Olympic Sports ComplexThe Olympic Athletic Center of Athens "Spiros Louis" or OACA , is a sport facilities complex located at Marousi, northeast Athens, Greece...
| Venue | Sports | Capacity | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre The Olympic Aquatic Centre is a complex at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex, consisting of two outdoor pools and one indoor pool, that was built for the 1991 Mediterranean Games. It was refurbished and expanded for the 2004 Summer Olympics. The larger of the outdoor pools, which seats 11,500... |
Diving Diving at the 2004 Summer Olympics At the 2004 Summer Olympics, in Athens, eight diving events were contested during a competition that took place at the Olympic Aquatic Centre, from 20 to 28 August , comprising a total of 125 divers from 30 nations.-Men:-Women:-Medal table:-Participating nations:Here are listed the nations that... , Swimming Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place in the Olympic Aquatic Centre with the athletes competing in 32 events. There was a total of 937 participants from 152 countries competing.-Medal table:-Men's events:... , Synchronized swimming Synchronized swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics Synchronized swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held in the Olympic Aquatic Centre where 104 competitors challenged for 2 gold medals in the duet and team events. Each event was made up of a technical and free routine with the points added together to determine the medalists.-Medal... , Water polo Water polo at the 2004 Summer Olympics Water polo at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Olympic Aquatic Centre where women competed for only the second time in the event at the Summer Olympics.... |
23,000 (total of three pools) | |
| Athens Olympic Tennis Centre Athens Olympic Tennis Centre The Olympic Tennis Centre is a grouping of 16 tennis courts at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex. It hosted the tennis matches at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece... |
Tennis Tennis at the 2004 Summer Olympics Tennis at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place on ten separate courts at the Olympic Tennis Centre. The surface was hardcourt, specifically DecoTurf.... |
15,000 (all courts) | |
| Athens Olympic Velodrome Athens Olympic Velodrome The Olympic Velodrome is a stadium at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex, built in 1991 for the Mediterranean Games. It was extensively refurbished in order to host the track cycling events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece... |
Cycling Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics had 18 events in three disciplines:*Road cycling, held at the Athens historic centre and in Vouliagmeni Olympic Centre .... (track) |
3,300 | |
| Olympic Indoor Hall Olympic Indoor Hall The O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall which is part of the Olympic Athletic Center of Athens "Spiros Louis" , was completed in 1995 and was the largest indoor venue in use for sporting events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. It is located in the suburb of Maroussi... |
Basketball Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena in Athens, Greece for the preliminary rounds, with the latter stages being held in the Olympic Indoor Hall at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex.... (final), Gymnastics Gymnastics at the 2004 Summer Olympics At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, three disciplines of gymnastics were contested: artistic gymnastics , rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline... (artistic, trampolining) |
19,250 | |
| Olympic Stadium Olympic Stadium (Athens) The Olympic Stadium "Spiros Louis" , is part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex. It is named after the first modern Olympic marathon race winner in 1896, Spiros Louis.-History:... |
Ceremonies (opening/ closing), Athletics Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics At the 2004 Summer Olympics, the athletics events were held at the Athens Olympic Stadium from August 18 to August 29, except for the marathons , the race walks , and the shot put... , Football Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics The football tournament at the 2004 Summer Olympics started on 11 August, , and ended on 28 August.The men's tournament is played by U-23 national teams, with up to three over age players allowed per squad... (final) |
71,030 |
HOCHelliniko Olympic ComplexThe Helliniko Olympic Complex is situated at Ellinikon on the east coast of Greece south of Athens, approximately 16 kilometres from the Olympic Village. It was built on the site of the former Ellinikon International Airport for the staging of the 2004 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Paralympics...
| Venue | Sports | Capacity | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fencing Hall Helliniko Fencing Hall The Helliniko Fencing Hall is an arena adjacent to the Indoor Arena. It hosted the fencing matches at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The facility seats 3,800 for the preliminary matches and 5,000 for the final matches... |
Fencing Fencing at the 2004 Summer Olympics Fencing at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Fencing Hall at the Helliniko Olympic Complex. Ten gold medals were awarded in individual and team events further divided into three styles of fencing: épée, foil and sabre.... |
8,000 | |
| Helliniko Indoor Arena Helliniko Olympic Arena The Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena is a multi-use sports indoor arena that is located in Ellinikon, Athens, Greece. It is approximately 10 miles from the Athens Olympic Village. It was built on the site of the former Ellinikon International Airport for the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2004 Summer... |
Basketball, Handball Handball at the 2004 Summer Olympics Handball at the 2004 Summer Olympics had a men's and a women's team competitions with the preliminary rounds taking place in the Sports Pavilion at the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex... (final) |
10,000 | |
| Olympic Baseball Centre Elliniko Stadium Helliniko Stadium is a stadium located at the Helliniko Olympic Complex in Ellinikon, located approximately 8 kilometres south of the center of Athens, near Glyfada on the Mediterranean coast. Ethnikos Piraeus F.C... |
Baseball Baseball at the 2004 Summer Olympics -Preliminary round:The top four teams advanced to the semifinals. To determine the seed ranking of teams tied in the standings, the result of the two teams' game against each other was used. Japan therefore received first place due to the win over Cuba. In the semi-finals, Japan played... |
Not listed. | |
| Olympic Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre Helliniko Olympic Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre The Helliniko Olympic Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre is located in the Helliniko Olympic Complex in Greece. The venue hosted the canoe slalom events for the 2004 Summer Olympics. It consists of a competition course, a secondary training course, and a warm-up lake of natural form that occupies a total... |
Canoeing Canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics Canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at the Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre for the sprint events and the Olympic Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre at the Helliniko Olympic Complex for the canoe and kayak slalom disciplines.... (slalom) |
3,150 | |
| Olympic Hockey Centre Helliniko Olympic Hockey Centre The Helliniko Olympic Hockey Centre was the site of the field hockey events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Located in the Helliniko Olympic Complex, the facility consists of two hockey fields... |
Field hockey Field hockey at the 2004 Summer Olympics Field Hockey at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at the Olympic Hockey Centre located within the Helliniko Olympic Complex. The competitions for both men and women was split into two groups with the top two teams after the preliminary rounds progressing through to the semi-finals.-Men's... |
20,000 | |
| Olympic Softball Stadium Helliniko Olympic Softball Stadium The Helliniko Olympic Softball Stadium is a softball stadium located in the Helliniko Olympic Complex. It hosted the softball competitions during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. The venue consists of a main softball field of 4,800 seats - though only 3,400 seats were made publicly available... |
Softball Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at the Olympic Softball Stadium in the Helliniko Olympic Complex from August 14 to 23. The United States won the gold while Australia took silver and Japan , the bronze.... |
Not listed. |
FaliroFaliro Coastal Zone Olympic ComplexThe Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Sports Complex is a complex in the coastal zone of Athens, Greece. It consists of two indoor arenas and a beach volleyball stadium, and it hosted Handball, Taekwondo, and volleyball events at the 2004 Summer Olympics...
| Venue | Sports | Capacity | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faliro Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre Faliro Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre The Faliro Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre is a stadium in the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex that hosted the beach volleyball competition for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The stadium holds a total of 9,600 individuals, though the public seating capacity is limited to 7,300... |
Volleyball Volleyball at the 2004 Summer Olympics thumb|right|Indoorthumb|right|BeachVolleyball at the 2004 Summer Olympics consisted of indoor volleyball held at the Peace and Friendship Stadium and beach volleyball held at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre, in the southern portion of the Roth Pavilion; both were located at the Faliro Coastal... (beach) |
8,000 | |
| Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena The Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena which is part of the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex is an indoor arena in Faliro, near Piraeus, Athens, Greece. It is nicknamed "The Little Peace And Friendship Stadium", due to its similarity in design and close proximity to the Peace and Friendship Stadium... |
Handball, Taekwondo Taekwondo at the 2004 Summer Olympics Taekwondo at the 2004 Summer Olympics were held in the Sports Pavilion at the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex where 124 competitors competed in eight events, four each for men and women.... |
10,000 | |
| Peace and Friendship Stadium Peace and Friendship Stadium The Stadio Eirinis kai Filias , known as S.E.F., is a multi-use indoor sports arena that is located in Faliro, Piraeus, Athens, Greece. It is the central venue of the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex and is mostly known for being the long-time home court of the famous Euroleague basketball club... |
Volleyball (indoor) | Not listed. |
GOCGoudi Olympic ComplexGoudi Olympic Complex is a sports complex in Athens, Greece. It held two of the sports venues used during the 2004 Summer Olympics.- Post-Olympics Development :...
| Venue | Sports | Capacity | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goudi Olympic Hall Goudi Olympic Hall The Goudi Olympic Hall is an indoor arena located in the Goudi Olympic Complex in Greece. The venue hosted the badminton events for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.The venue opened in 2004 right before the start of those games.... |
Badminton Badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics Badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at the Goudi Olympic Hall at the Goudi Olympic Complex from August 14 through August 21. Both men and women competed in their own singles and doubles events and together they competed in a mixed doubles event.... |
8,000 | |
| Olympic Modern Pentathlon Centre Olympic Modern Pentathlon Centre The Olympic Modern Pentathlon Centre was the site of the modern pentathlon events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The venue seats 2,500 for the swimming part of the competition, 5,000 for the riding and running parts each, and 3,000 for the fencing and shooting... |
Modern pentathlon Modern pentathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics The modern pentathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Olympic Modern Pentathlon Centre at the Goudi Olympic Complex as single day events for men and women on August 26 and August 27, respectively.... |
10,000 |
Football venues
| Venue | Sports | Capacity | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaftanzoglio Stadium Kaftanzoglio Stadium Kaftanzoglio stadium is a sports stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece. The stadium was built with money donated by the Kaftanzoglou Foundation, hence its name. At the time of its opening on 27 October 1960, the stadium was one of the highest quality stadiums in the Balkans... (Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace... ) |
Football | 27,770 | |
| Karaiskakis Stadium Karaiskakis Stadium Karaiskakis Stadium is in the Neo Faliro area of Piraeus, Greece. It is the home ground of Olympiacos F.C. and is named after Georgios Karaiskakis , hero of the Greek War of Independence, who was mortally wounded near the area.... (Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... ) |
Football | 33,334 | |
| Pampeloponnisiako Stadium (Patras Patras Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens... ) |
Football | 23,588 | |
| Pankritio Stadium (Heraklion Heraklion Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece.... ) |
Football | 26,240 | |
| Panthessaliko Stadium Panthessaliko Stadium Panthessaliko Stadium is a stadium located at Volos, Greece. The stadium was the site of football matches during the 2004 Summer Olympics. It was officially opened on July 30, 2004 and has a capacity of 22,700 seats, though only 21,100 seats were made publicly available for the Olympic matches... (Volos Volos Volos is a coastal port city in Thessaly situated midway on the Greek mainland, about 326 km north of Athens and 215 km south of Thessaloniki... ) |
Football | 22,700 |
Other venues
| Venue | Sports | Capacity | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre The Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre hosted the sailing events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The center is located about four miles from downtown Athens along the coast. It was officially opened on August 2, 2004, a few weeks before the Olympics, though test events were... |
Sailing Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre with eleven events being contested.The events were split into four classes for men, four for women, and three mixed classes that were open to both men and women... |
8,000 | |
| Ano Liosia Olympic Hall Ano Liosia Olympic Hall Ano Liossia Olympic Hall was the host to judo and wrestling at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The arena seats up to 9,300, but only 6,000 seats were made available for the Olympics. The hall is situated in Ano Liosia, a suburb northwest of central Athens... |
Judo Judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics Judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place in the Ano Liossia Olympic Hall and featured 368 judoka competing for 14 gold medals with seven different weight categories in both the men's and women's competitions. Japan dominated the event by taking 8 gold and 2 silver medals.Gold and silver medals... , Wrestling Wrestling at the 2004 Summer Olympics Wrestling at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place in the Ano Liossia Olympic Hall and was split into two disciplines, Freestyle and Greco-Roman which are further divided into different weight categories. Men competed in both disciplines whereas women only took part in the Freestyle event with 18... |
10,000 | |
| Galatsi Olympic Hall Galatsi Olympic Hall The Galatsi Olympic Hall is an indoor arena in Athens, Greece. It is located in Galatsi and it was the site of table tennis and rhythmic gymnastics at the 2004 Summer Olympics. The arena was completed in May 2004 and officially opened on July 30, 2004, shortly before the beginning of the Olympics... |
Gymnastics (rhythmic), Table tennis Table tennis at the 2004 Summer Olympics thumb|rightTable tennis at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place in the Galatsi Olympic Hall with 172 competitors in 4 events.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-References:*... |
Not listed. | |
| Kotzia Square Kotzia Square Kotzia Square is a square in central Athens, Greece. The square retains several charactertics of 19th century local neoclassical architecture, such as the City Hall of the Municipality of Athens and the National Bank of Greece Cultural Center.-Location:... |
Cycling (individual road race) | 3,150 | |
| Marathon (city) Marathon, Greece Marathon is a town in Greece, the site of the battle of Marathon in 490 BC, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians. The tumulus or burial mound for the 192 Athenian dead that was erected near the battlefield remains a feature of the coastal plain... |
Athletics (marathon start) | Not listed. | |
| Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre The Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre hosted the equestrian events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The venue is located at Markópoulo on the outskirts of the Athens suburbs. It was completed in December 2003 and officially opened on August 12, 2004, shortly before the beginning of... |
Equestrian Equestrian at the 2004 Summer Olympics The events of the Equestrian at the 2004 Summer Olympics featured three equestrian disciplines: dressage, eventing and jumping. All three disciplines are further divided into individual and team contests for a total of six events.... |
Not listed. | |
| Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre The Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre was the site of the shooting events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The venue is located in Markópoulo, on the outskirts of the eastern suburbs of Athens. It has a seating capacity of 4,000, though a public capacity of only 2,330 for the Olympics... |
Shooting Shooting at the 2004 Summer Olympics In shooting at the 2004 Summer Olympics, 390 competitors from 106 nations contested 17 events . The competition took place at the Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre, located in the east of the Greek region of Attica.... |
Not listed. | |
| Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Hall Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Hall The Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Hall is an indoor arena in Nikaia, near Piraeus. It hosted the weightlifting events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The venue was officially opened on August 14, 2004, the day after the beginning of the Games... |
Weightlifting Weightlifting at the 2004 Summer Olympics At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, fifteen events in weightlifting were contested, in eight classes for men and seven for women. Competition was held in the Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Hall.-Doping:... |
Not listed. | |
| Panathinaiko Stadium Panathinaiko Stadium The Panathinaiko or Panathenaic Stadium , also known as the Kallimarmaro , is an athletic stadium in Athens that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896... |
Archery Archery at the 2004 Summer Olympics Archery at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, Greece with ranking rounds on 12 August and regular competition held from 15 August to 21 August... , Athletics (marathon finish) |
7,500 (archery) 34,500 (athletics marathon finish) |
|
| Parnitha Olympic Mountain Bike Venue Parnitha Olympic Mountain Bike Venue The Parnitha Olympic Mountain Bike Venue was the site of the Mountain Biking events at the 2004 Summer Olympics at Athens, Greece. The venue is located at Parnitha, a mountain to the north of Athens in Acharnai.-References:... |
Cycling (mountain biking) | Not listed. | |
| Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall The Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall is an indoor arena located in Peristeri, to the west of central Athens. The hall was the site of the boxing events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece... |
Boxing Boxing at the 2004 Summer Olympics Boxing at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place in the Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall. The event was only open to men and bouts were contested over four rounds of two minutes each... |
5,600 | |
| Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre The Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre was built to host the rowing and canoe sprint events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece.... |
Canoeing (sprint), Rowing Rowing at the 2004 Summer Olympics Rowing at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre and featured 550 competitors taking part in 14 events.... |
14,000 | |
| Stadium at Olympia Stadium at Olympia The stadium at the archaeological site of Olympia, Greece is located to the east of the sanctuary of Zeus. It was the location of many of the sporting events at the Ancient Olympic Games.... |
Athletics (shot put) | Not listed. | |
| Vouliagmeni Olympic Centre Vouliagmeni Olympic Centre The Vouliagmeni Olympic Centre was the site of the men's and women's triathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics at Athens, Greece. It also hosted the individual time trial cycling events. Located at Vouliagmeni, to the southeast of Athens, the temporary facility seated up to 3,600, though only 2,200... |
Cycling (individual time trial), Triathlon Triathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics At the 2004 Summer Olympics, the triathlon events were held at the Vouliagmeni Olympic Centre. Fifty triathletes contested the female event on August 25, and the same number contested the male event on August 26, making up a total of 100 competitors.... |
Not listed. |
Before the Olympics
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
served as home of the Ancient Olympic Games that ran from 776 B.C. to 393 A.D. in Olympia
Olympia, Greece
Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC...
. Following the effort of Pierre de Coubertin
Pierre de Coubertin
Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin was a French educationalist and historian, founder of the International Olympic Committee, and is considered the father of the modern Olympic Games...
to revive the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, the first modern Olympics took place at Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
in 1896
1896 Summer Olympics
The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Athens, Greece, from April 6 to April 15, 1896. It was the first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era...
. The main stadium, Panathinaiko, served as host of the athletic
Athletics at the 1896 Summer Olympics
At the 1896 Summer Olympics, twelve athletics events were contested. All of the events except the marathon were held in the Panathinaiko Stadium, which was also the finish for the marathon. Events were held on 6 April, 7 April, 9 April, and 10 April 1896 . 64 athletes, all men, from ten nations...
, gymnastic
Gymnastics at the 1896 Summer Olympics
At the 1896 Summer Olympics, eight gymnastics events, all for men, were contested in Panathinaiko Stadium. They were organized and prepared by the Sub-Committee for Wrestling and Gymnastics. Events took place on 9 April, 10 April, and 11 April 1896...
, weightlifting
Weightlifting at the 1896 Summer Olympics
At the 1896 Summer Olympics, two weightlifting events were contested . The top two places were won by the same two men in each event, though their order was reversed for the two events. The bronze medals were split by the two Greek weightlifters. A total of seven men from five nations competed...
, and wrestling
Wrestling at the 1896 Summer Olympics
At the 1896 Summer Olympics, one wrestling event was contested. It was organized and prepared by the Sub-Committee for Wrestling and Gymnastics...
events. The city of Marathon served the start point for the sport of the same name and the starting and finishing point of cycling
Cycling at the 1896 Summer Olympics
At the 1896 Summer Olympics, six cycling events were contested at the Neo Phaliron Velodrome. They were organized and prepared by the Sub-Committee for Cycling. Events were held on 8 April, 11 April, 12 April and 13 April 1896...
's Individual road race.
Between the 1896 and 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, Greece underwent a series of events that created political instability in the country. This included the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
of 1912-3, World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
The Greco–Turkish War of 1919–1922, known as the Western Front of the Turkish War of Independence in Turkey and the Asia Minor Campaign or the Asia Minor Catastrophe in Greece, was a series of military events occurring during the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire after World War I between May...
, a creation of a Second Hellenic Republic
Second Hellenic Republic
The Second Hellenic Republic is the term used to describe the political regime of Greece from 1924 to 1935. It followed from the period of the constitutional monarchy under the monarchs of the House of Glücksburg, and lasted until its overthrow in a military coup d'état which restored the monarchy...
of 1924-35, the Axis Occupation of Greece during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and the Greek Civil War
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
of 1946-49. By the 1950s, Greece reemerged as an "economic model" though a coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
in April 1967 forced the country into a military junta that lasted until 1974. It would take a change back to democracy in 1975 and an entrance into the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
in 1979 set Greece back to growth.
Athens first bid for the Summer Olympics took place in 1986 for the 1996 Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. They lost out to eventual winner Atlanta, Georgia in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at a 1990 International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC) meeting in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. Olympic Stadium in Athens served as host for the European Athletics Championships in 1982. This venue also served as host for the Mediterranean Games
Mediterranean Games
The Mediterranean Games are a multi-sport games held every four years, mainly for nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea, where Europe, Africa and Asia meet. The idea was proposed at the 1948 Summer Olympics by Muhammed Taher Pasha, chairman of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, and they were first...
in 1991
1991 Mediterranean Games
The 11th edition of the Mediterranean Games were held in Athens, Greece fromthe 28th of June to the 12th of July 1991. Eighteen nations competed in 24 different sportingevents.- Pre-Mediterranean Cup :...
. In 1995, Athens submitted a bid for the 2004 Summer Olympics which it was awarded in September 1997. A month earlier
1997 World Championships in Athletics
The 6th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece between August 1 and August 10, 1997. In this event participated 1882 athletes from 198 participant nations...
, Olympic Stadium hosted the World Championships in Athletics.
At the time of the bid in 1997, the venues to be used for the 2004 Games were available for 75% of the competition and 92% of the training locations. Venue locations were settled between 1998 and 2003. Construction funding started in 1998 with laws passing in 1999 and 2000 to assist this along. A total of 37 contracts were issued for venue construction and renovation involving three different governmental ministries. Monthly reports were issues to the Athens Organizing Committee (ATHOC) on venue project status, including the use of Gantt chart
Gantt chart
A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart that illustrates a project schedule. Gantt charts illustrate the start and finish dates of the terminal elements and summary elements of a project. Terminal elements and summary elements comprise the work breakdown structure of the project. Some Gantt charts...
s. Design drawings were completed by December 2002. Accessibility
Accessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
needs for the venues were taken into consideration into their design and construction. ATHOC hired consultants to review the venue design for accessibility. Among the needs considered are keeping corridors flat and free of obstacles, ramps and platforms longer than 10 m (32.8 ft) with a 5% incline, and larger elevators installed for all personnel involved with the 2004 Games.
Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre had to deal with the World Wildlife Fund and three Greek environment
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
al organization during the construction phase of the venue. The biotope
Biotope
Biotope is an area of uniform environmental conditions providing a living place for a specific assemblage of plants and animals. Biotope is almost synonymous with the term habitat, but while the subject of a habitat is a species or a population, the subject of a biotope is a biological community.It...
area where the venue would be constructed was declared a National Park in June 2000. Water quality was monitored once the venue was completed in 2003 with monitoring occurring in July–September 2003 and June–September 2004. Among the items monitored were temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
, salinity
Salinity
Salinity is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water. It is a general term used to describe the levels of different salts such as sodium chloride, magnesium and calcium sulfates, and bicarbonates...
, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand
Chemical oxygen demand
In environmental chemistry, the chemical oxygen demand test is commonly used to indirectly measure the amount of organic compounds in water. Most applications of COD determine the amount of organic pollutants found in surface water or wastewater, making COD a useful measure of water quality...
(COD), total bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
, and residual bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
. The water quality comintoring guidelines were done in cooperation with the International Rowing Federation
International Rowing Federation
The Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron, or FISA for short, is the International Rowing Federation which is the governing body for international Rowing. Its current president is Denis Oswald...
(FISA).
Insect control at the venues had biological products used for pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s sprayed with extreme precisions. A total of 70 man-months were required to sample, spray, and bait the 20,000 samples and 4,000 mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
breeding sites. Maritime pollution, specifically with oil spill
Oil spill
An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially marine areas, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. The term is mostly used to describe marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters...
s, had to be dealt with for Agios Kosmas (sailing) and Vouliameni (triathlon) in case a spill occurred. Recycling was used at all venues for the 2004 Games.
During the Olympics
The Games themselves had over 1,600 people involved in venue site management services. For the non-managers involved, 65 percent were building mechanical personnel (electricianElectrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
, plumbing
Plumbing
Plumbing is the system of pipes and drains installed in a building for the distribution of potable drinking water and the removal of waterborne wastes, and the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and plumbing fixtures in such systems. A plumber is someone who installs or repairs piping...
, HVAC
HVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
), 20% were construction foreman
Construction foreman
A construction foreman is the worker or tradesman who is in charge of a construction crew. While traditionally this role has been assumed by a senior male worker, the title in the modern sense is gender non-specific in intent...
and unskilled personnel, and 5% were sound and light technicians. They worked in continuous shifts during the games and were on-call on 24-hour operations. Waste operation at the venues during those games involved 52 paid staff, 45 volunteers, and 2,800 contractors.
The marathon course was run on the route used for the 1896 Summer Olympics though the 1896 race was 40 km (24.9 mi) long while the 2004 race was 42.195 km (26.2 mi) long. For the first time since 369 AD, an athletic event took place at the Stadium at Olympia with American
United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics
The United States was represented at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, by the United States Olympic Committee . The delegation of 613 athletes was the largest the country has ever sent to the Summer Olympics...
Kristin Heaston
Kristin Heaston
Kristin L. Heaston is a female shot putter from the United States.Heaston was a participant in the 2008 Olympic Games where she placed 23rd in the qualifying round with a throw of 17.34m...
making the first in the shot put event. Although Heaston was the first woman to compete at Olympia, she did not make it the final. That event was won by Cuba
Cuba at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Cuba won 27 medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, including 9 gold medals.-Gold:*Yumileidi Cumba — Athletics, women's shot put*Osleidys Menendez — Athletics, women's javelin throw...
's Yumileidi Cumbá
Yumileidi Cumbá
Yumileidi Cumbá Jay is a Cuban shot putter.Her greatest season was 2004, when she won an Olympic gold medal and achieved a new personal best throw....
, who moved up from silver after initial winner Irina Korzhanenko
Irina Korzhanenko
Irina Korzhanenko is a former Russian shot putter. She gained international recognition when she won a bronze medal at the 1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships...
of Russia
Russia at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Russia at the 2004 Summer Olympics was represented by the Russian Olympic Committee . The team won 92 total medals , including 27 gold medals .-Medalists:-Archery:MenWomen-Athletics:...
failed her doping
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...
test.
The canoeing slalom course at Ellinikon
Ellinikon
Ellinikon is a suburb of Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Elliniko-Argyroupoli, of which it is a municipal unit....
was the first one to use saltwater. This was pumped directly from the Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
. For the men's individual road cycling race held at Kotzia Square in downtown Athens, only 75 of the 144 cyclists completed the 224 km (139.2 mi) race held in 100 °F (37.8 °C) heat.
Women's trap shooting at the Markopoulo Shooting Range was held in blustery conditions. This event was won by Australia
Australia at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Australia competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece with 482 competitors, which was the second largest Olympic team. Australian athletes have competed in every Summer Olympic Games since 1896...
's Suzanne Balogh
Suzanne Balogh
Suzanne Elspeth Balogh OAM is a sport shooter from Australia. Balogh competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics and won a gold medal in Trap. She also competed in the Double Trap event...
.
After the Olympics
The OAKA area has hosted numerous events since the 2004 Games, including Pearl JamPearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
and Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
concerts in 2006 and basketball's Euroleague Final Four, won by home team Panathinaikos, in 2007.
HOC has hosted numerous events as well including the European Rowing Championships
European Rowing Championships
The European Rowing Championships is an international Rowing regatta organised by FISA .The first event was held in 1893 and as of 1962 was replaced by the World Rowing Championships, which then became an annual event from 1974...
at Schinias in 2008
2008 European Rowing Championships
The European Rowing Championships 2008, the 2nd after the decision made in May 2006 by the FISA to re-establish them, were held at the Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre, Marathon, Greece, between September 16 and September 21, 2008....
, blues guitarist Gary Moore
Gary Moore
Robert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
in 2008, and ART-ATHINA in 2010.
In the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex, the Faliro Sports Pavilion is known as Athens International Convention Center, Peace and Friendship Stadium is a multipurpose venue, and the Beach Volleyball Centre is an outdoor conference venue.
Goudi Olympic Hall after the Olympics was converted into a theater. Known as the Badminton Theater, in honor of the sport it hosted for the 2004 Games, it opened in 2007.
Markopoulo Shooting Centre has all but one of its sections turned over to the Hellenic Police. The Passport Office and Special Forces are scheduled to relocated there as well.
Ana Liosa Arena was converted into an arts and entertainment facility after the Olympics.