Top Stories· August 17, 2026 at 08:23 a.m.
First Major Cleaning of Panathenaic Stadium in a Century Restores Historic Marble
Key takeaways
- Panathenaic Stadium undergoes first major cleaning in over a century
- Cleaning process involves specialized equipment and care for historical marble
- Isidoros Kouvelos emphasizes the stadium's significance to the Olympic movement
- Dimitris Selemis explains the aim of the cleaning is not to make everything white but to remove pollutants and organic matter
- Chewing gum, high heels, and soft drink stains are among the main causes of soiling and damage
The iconic Panathenaic Stadium, host to numerous Olympic Games and events, is undergoing its first comprehensive cleaning in over a century. The stadium, made entirely of white marble like the Acropolis, is being restored with great care due to its historical significance.
The cleaning process involves specialized equipment that delivers clean water at low pressure and machines that suck up the water produced by the cleaning, ensuring minimal stress on the marble.
Isidoros Kouvelos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, stated, 'The Kallimarmaro is a unique monument for the global Olympic movement... It was essential to remove everything that has built up over the years.'
As the cleaning progresses, marks left by time, weather, and visitors are being revealed. Chewing gum residues, high heels, and soft drink stains are among the main causes of soiling and damage.
Dimitris Selemis, an antiquities conservator, explained that the aim is not to make everything dazzling white but to remove pollutants and organic matter. Weeds and vegetation have also caused problems by growing and staining the marble.
As the work continues, the stadium's original sheen is gradually re-emerging, restoring its widely known Greek name Kallimarmaro, meaning 'beautiful marble'.
