In 2004 Athens played host to the 28th modern Olympic Games. The main venue of this mega event was the Olympic Stadium named after Spyros Louis, the winner of the first marathon race of the Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896. Located in northern Athens its construction was completed in 1982. It accommodates about 70,000 spectators.
On the ground of the 2004 Olympic Games the stadium was extensively renovated. The reconstruction work, mainly concerning the roof, was undertaken by world-known Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. The two giant arcs of the roof, the highlight of the stadium, are made up of 17,000 tons of steel and glass.
The Olympic Stadium belongs to the Olympic Athletic Centre of Athens, which includes five different sport venues: a tennis centre, a velodrome, an indoor training hall and an aquatic centre.
Nowadays the stadium hosts numerous athletic and cultural events.