Chewing gum, high heels and soft-drink stains: Why Athens’ iconic marble Olympic stadium is getting its first deep clean in more than a century

Athens’ famous Panathenaic Stadium is getting a remarkable makeover ahead of the next Olympic flame ceremonies.

The U-shaped stadium, made entirely of white marble, is undergoing its first systematic cleaning in more than a century. The landmark hosted the first modern Olympics in 1896 and remains the ceremonial starting point for the Olympic flame, including the journey toward Los Angeles 2028.