Olympic Stadium

Olympic Stadium

Introduction This was the venue of the first International Olympic Games. It was built in the late 17th century with funding from Zappas and Averoff of Athens, modeled after the layout of ancient Greek stadiums. The stadium is horseshoe-shaped, with two parallel lines inside connected by a small curved arc. Along the lines and the arc are rows of seats made of white marble, capable of seating ten thousand spectators. The five Olympic rings are inlaid on the wall at the entrance of the stadium. The fine cinder track inside the stadium is as black as ink, and the marble steps are as pristine as carved ice. It feels less like an intense arena and more like a delicate work of art.

Athens, Greece