Panathenaic Stadium - Revision history

Irlandos at 21:54, April 21, 2006

2006-04-21T21:54:06Z

Irlandos: /* External link */

2006-02-10T21:01:35Z

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Irlandos at 20:47, February 10, 2006

2006-02-10T20:47:07Z

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'''[[Panathinaiko Stadium]]''' (also known as the '''[[Kallimarmaron]]''', i.e. the "beautifully marbled") in [[Athens]] is the only major stadium in the world built fully of white marble (from Mount [[Penteli]]). It should not be confused with the [[Panathinaikos FC|Panathinaikos]]' [[football (soccer)|football]] field (officially called the [[Apostolos Nikolaidis stadium]]) at [[Alexandras Avenue]].

In ancient times it was used to host the athletic portion of the [[Panathenaic Games]] in honour of the Goddess [[Athena]]. During classical times the stadium had wooden seating. It was remade in marble by the archon Lycurgus in [[329 BC]] and was enlarged and renovated by [[Herod Atticus]] in [[140 BC]], to a capacity of 50,000. The remnants of the ancient structure were excavated in [[1870]]. It was fully rebuilt in [[1895]] in order to host the [[1896_Summer_Olympics|first modern Olympic Games]], with funding provided by the magnate [[George Averoff]] (whose marble statue now stands at the entrance) and on designs by architects [[Anastasios Metaxas]] and Ernst Ziller. The stadium was built long before dimensions for athletics venues were standardized and its track and layout follow the ancient hairpin-like model. It can seat about 80,000 spectators.

It is located in downtown Athens, east of the National Gardens and the [[Zappeion]] Mansion, west of the Pankrati residential district and between the twin pine-covered hills of [[Ardettos]] and Agra. Up to the [[1950s]], the [[Ilissos]] River (now covered by, and flowing underneath, Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue) ran in front of the stadium's entrance, and the spring of [[Kallirrhoe]], the sanctuary of Pankrates (a local hero) and the [[Cynosarges]] public gymnasium were nearby.

The Fokianos sports facility lies across Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue, and next to it are located the Athens tennis club, the Ethnikos athletics track, the Federation swimming pool, the remnants of the [[Temple of Olympian Zeus]], and [[Hadrian's Gate]]. Until the late 19th century and the containment of the Ilissos riverbed, the area was reedy and often flooded, and was called the "Vatrahonisi" (Frog Island).

In more recent years this stadium has been often used to honour the homecoming of victorious Greek athletes, most notably the Greece [[national football team]] after its victory at the [[Euro 2004|2004 European Football Championship]] and also the opening ceremony of the World Athletics Championships in [[1997]], on a concept by composer [[Vangelis]] Papathanasiou.

In the [[2004 Olympic Games]], the Panathinaiko Stadium hosted the archery competition, and served as the finish site for the men's and women's Marathon races.

==External link==
*[http://www.athens2004.com/en/Venues/venues?oid=834802b31af59f00VgnVCMServer28130b0aRCRD Athens 2004 website]

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:1896 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic stadiums|Athens]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Greece]]
[[Category:Athens Olympic venues]]

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 The Fokianos sports facility lies across Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue, and next to it are located the Athens tennis club, the Ethnikos athletics track, the Federation swimming pool, the remnants of the [[Temple of Olympian Zeus]], and [[Hadrian's Gate]].  Until the late 19th century and the containment of the Ilissos riverbed, the area was reedy and often flooded, and was called the "Vatrahonisi" (Frog Island).
-In more recent years this stadium has been often used to honour the homecoming of victorious Greek athletes, most notably the Greece [[national football team]] after its victory at the [[Euro 2004|2004 European Football Championship]] and also the opening ceremony of the World Athletics Championships in [[1997]], on a concept by composer [[Vangelis]] Papathanasiou.
+In more recent years this stadium has been often used to honour the homecoming of victorious Greek athletes, most notably the Greece [[national football team]] after its victory at the [[Euro 2004|2004 European Football Championship]] and also the opening ceremony of the World Athletics Championships in [[1997]], on a concept by composer [[Vangelis Papathanasiou]].
 In the [[2004 Olympic Games]], the Panathinaiko Stadium hosted the archery competition, and served as the finish site for the men's and women's Marathon races.

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 [[Category:1896 Summer Olympics]]
 [[Category:Olympic stadiums|Athens]]
-[[Category:Sports venues in Greece]]
+[[Category:Stadia]]
 [[Category:Athens Olympic venues]]