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.

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A delicate cleanup for the Kallimarmaro

The stadium is built from the same glittering marble used on the Acropolis, making the cleaning process especially delicate.

Workers in white and blue overalls are carefully moving across its 47 steep tiers with thin spray lances. They are using clean water at controlled, low pressure, while machines vacuum up the runoff.

“The goal of cleaning is not to make everything white. It’s to remove the dirt and the first layers of organic material that are deposited on the surface,” said Dimitris Selemis, a senior conservator at the site.

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“The idea is to clean all the material that (contains) dirt from the surface, so we have a better understanding of the monument,” he said, noting that there is more weed growth and dirt in areas that receive less direct sunlight.

Chewing gum and soft-drink stains are among the culprits

The restoration is also tackling some very modern problems.

Crews are using steam to remove chewing-gum stains that have turned black over time. Stadium officials say chewing gum, high heels and soft-drink stains are among the main causes of staining on the marble.

As the layers of grime disappear, the stadium’s original gleaming appearance is gradually returning. That distinctive marble look is behind its famous Greek nickname, “Kallimarmaro,” or beautiful marble.

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“We call it Kallimarmaro because it is made of the finest marble, the best that was ever produced ... We are very proud of it,” Isidoros Kouvelos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, told The Associated Press in an interview.

“It needed to be cleaned of everything that has accumulated over all these years," he said. "This way the Panathenaic Stadium will show all its brilliance and will once again be the foremost monument of humanity for the Olympic Movement.”

From ancient contests to LA 2028

Built into a natural ravine, the stadium’s site was used for ancient Greek athletic contests and later Roman spectacles before falling into centuries of disuse.

After its revival for the 1896 Olympics, the venue went on to host fashion shows, rock concerts, boxing matches and national celebrations.

The current project includes more than marble cleaning. The Kallimarmaro is also getting a new track, upgraded lighting and improved support facilities. The work will continue through 2026.

The cleaning is currently focused on the stadium’s curved end, known as the “sling,” ahead of the Sept. 10 torch-passing ceremony for the Dakar Youth Olympics.

The Dakar Youth Olympics will take place from Oct. 31 to Nov. 13 in Senegal, marking the first Olympic competition hosted in Africa. IOC President Kirsty Coventry is due to attend the ceremony, Kouvelos said.

The century-old grime is slowly disappearing, but the history of the Panathenaic Stadium remains — now with its famous white marble ready to shine again.