View source for 2004 Summer Olympics

{{Short description|Multi-sport event in Athens, Greece}}
{{Redirect|Games of the XXVIII Olympiad|the video game|Athens 2004 (video game)|the Summer Paralympics|2004 Summer Paralympics}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox Olympic games|2004|Summer|Olympics|
| image       = Athens 2004 logo.svg
| image_size  = 150
| caption     = Emblem of the 2004 Summer Olympics{{Efn|The 2004 Olympic Games emblem is a wreath made from an olive tree branch, or kotinos. The emblem is a reference to the ancient Olympic Games, where the kotinos was the official award of Olympic champions. In addition, the olive was the sacred tree of Athens. The colours of the emblem symbolise the shades of white and blue found in the Greek countryside; Down below the word "ATHENS 2004" was put above the Olympic ring.}}
| host_city   = Athens, Greece
| motto       = ''Welcome Home''<br>({{langx|el|Καλώς ήρθατε σπίτι|Kalós írthate spíti}})
| nations     = 201
| athletes    = 10,557 (6,257 men, 4,300 women)
| events      = 301 in 28 [[Olympic sports|sports]] (40 disciplines)
| opening     = 13 August 2004
| closing     = 29 August 2004
| opened_by   = [[President of Greece|President]] [[Konstantinos Stephanopoulos]]<ref name="Opening and Cauldron">{{cite press release|title=Factsheet - Opening Ceremony of the Games of the Olympiad|url=https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/Opening_ceremony_of_the_Games_of_the_Olympiad.pdf|url-status=dead|publisher=International Olympic Committee|date=9 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814215458/https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/Opening_ceremony_of_the_Games_of_the_Olympiad.pdf|archive-date=14 August 2016|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref>
| closed_by = [[President of the International Olympic Committee|IOC President]] [[Jacques Rogge]]
| cauldron    = [[Nikolaos Kaklamanakis]]<ref name="Opening and Cauldron"/>
| stadium     = [[Olympic Stadium (Athens)|Olympic Stadium]]
| summer_prev = [[2000 Summer Olympics|Sydney 2000]]
| summer_next = [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing 2008]]
| winter_prev = [[2002 Winter Olympics|Salt Lake 2002]]
| winter_next = [[2006 Winter Olympics|Torino 2006]]
}}
{{2004 Summer Olympics}}
The '''2004 Summer Olympics''' ({{langx|el|Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004|Theriní Olympiakí Agónes 2004}}),{{efn|Standard [[Modern Greek]] pronunciation is {{IPA|el|θeriˈni olibi.aˈci aˈɣonez ðˈio çiˈʎaðes ˈtesera|}}.}} officially the '''Games of the XXVIII Olympiad''' ({{langx|el|Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας|Agónes tis 28is Olympiádas|label=none}}), and officially branded as '''Athens 2004''' ({{lang|el|Αθήνα 2004}}), were an international [[multi-sport event]] held from 13 to 29&nbsp;August 2004 in [[Athens]], Greece.

The Games saw 10,625 athletes compete,<ref name="olympics">{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/athens-2004-summer-olympics |title=Athens 2004 |access-date=19 January 2008 |work=International Olympic Committee |publisher=olympic.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130117121331/http://www.olympic.org/athens-2004-summer-olympics |archive-date=17 January 2013 }}</ref><ref name="athletes_number">{{cite web|title=The Olympic Summer Games Factsheet|url=http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/The_Olympic_Summer_Games.pdf|publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=5 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112051935/http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/The_Olympic_Summer_Games.pdf|archive-date=12 January 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team officials from 201 countries,<ref name="olympics" /> with 301 medal events in 28 different [[Olympic sports|sports]].<ref name="olympics" /> The 2004 Games marked the first time since the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] that all countries with a [[National Olympic Committee]] were in attendance, and also marked the first time Athens hosted the Games since their first modern incarnation in [[1896 Summer Olympics|1896]] as well as the return of the Olympic games to its birthplace. Athens became the fourth city to host the [[Summer Olympic Games]] on two occasions (together with [[Paris]], [[London]] and [[Los Angeles]]). A new medal obverse was introduced at these Games, replacing the design by [[Giuseppe Cassioli]] that had been used since [[1928 Summer Olympics|1928]]. The new design features the [[Panathenaic Stadium]] in Athens<ref name="peopledaily">{{cite web|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200307/02/eng20030702_119258.shtml |title=Athens' New Olympic Medal Design Win IOC's Nod |date=2 July 2003 |work=[[People's Daily]] |access-date=5 August 2011}}</ref> rectifying the long-running mistake of using a depiction of the Roman [[Colosseum]] rather than a Greek venue.<ref name="OM">{{cite web|url=http://olympic-museum.de/w_medals/wmed1956.htm |title=Winner Medals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704231329/http://olympic-museum.de/w_medals/wmed1956.htm |archive-date=4 July 2011 |url-status=dead |website=olympic-museum.de |access-date=27 July 2011}}</ref>

The 2004 Olympic Games were hailed as "unforgettable dream games" by then-[[President of the International Olympic Committee|IOC President]] [[Jacques Rogge]], and left Athens with a significantly improved infrastructure, including a new airport, ring road and subway system.<ref name="ESPN">{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/summer04/gen/news/story?id=1870458 |title=Rogge: Athens 'unforgettable, dream Games' |agency=Associated Press |date=29 August 2004 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=28 July 2012}}</ref> There has been debate (mostly in popular media) regarding the cost of the Games and their possible contribution to the 2010–18 [[Greek government-debt crisis]], although there is [[#Arguments about possible effects on Greece's debt crisis|little or no evidence supporting this claim]]. The 2004 Games were generally deemed to be a success, with the rising standard of competition amongst nations across the world. The final medal tally was led by the [[United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics|United States]], followed by [[China at the 2004 Summer Olympics|China]] and [[Russia at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Russia]] with host nation [[Greece at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Greece]] in 15th place. Several [[World record|world]] and [[Olympic record]]s were also broken during these Games. 
 
[[Chile at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Chile]], [[Chinese Taipei at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Chinese Taipei]], [[Dominican Republic at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Dominican Republic]], [[Georgia at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Georgia]] and [[Israel at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Israel]] won their first Olympic gold medals. [[Eritrea at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Eritrea]] and [[Paraguay at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Paraguay]] won their first Olympic medals. 
The [[United Arab Emirates at the 2004 Summer Olympics|United Arab Emirates]] (UAE) won both their first Olympic medal and gold medal in this event.

==Host city selection==
{{Main|Bids for the 2004 Summer Olympics}}
[[Athens]] was chosen as the host city during the 106th IOC Session held in [[Lausanne]], Switzerland on 5 September 1997. The Greek capital had lost its bid to organize the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] to the American city of [[Atlanta]] nearly seven years before, during the 96th IOC Session in Tokyo, Japan on 18 September 1990. Under the direction of [[Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki]], Athens pursued another bid, this time for the right to host the Summer Olympics in 2004. The success of Athens in securing the 2004 Games was based largely on the bid's appeal to human values, the history of the Games from ancient age and modern age and the emphasis that Athens is placed at the pivotal role that Greece and Athens could play in promoting the Modern Olympism and the Olympic Movement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/19/sports/atlanta-selected-over-athens-for-1996-olympics.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2&pagewanted=print|title=Atlanta Selected Over Athens for 1996 Olympics|last=Weisman|first=Steven R.|date=19 September 1990|work=The New York Times|access-date=23 September 2008}}</ref> Unlike the 1996 bid that was seen arrogant when the city was bidding, the 2004 bid was lauded for its low scale, humility, honest and earnestness, its focused message, and a more real and detailed bid concept.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athens-wins-2004-olympics-1237761.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athens-wins-2004-olympics-1237761.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Athens wins 2004 Olympics|date=6 September 1997|first=Mike|last=Rowbottom|work=The Independent |location=London | access-date=25 May 2010 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

During the unsuccessful 1996 bid, concerns and criticisms were raised – primarily regarding critical subjects about the city's infrastructural readiness, its air pollution, its budget and politicization of the Games' events and their preparations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/06/sports/athens-wins-a-vote-for-tradition-and-the-2004-olympics.html?pagewanted=print|title=Athens Wins a Vote for Tradition, and the 2004 Olympics|date=6 September 1997|first=Jere|last=Longman|newspaper=The New York Times| access-date=25 May 2010 }}</ref> The subsequent successful organization of other events such as the [[1991 Mediterranean Games]], the [[1994 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship]], [[1994 World Fencing Championships]] and the successful [[1997 World Championships in Athletics]], one month before the Olympic host city election was crucial in allaying lingering fears and concerns among the sporting community and some IOC members about the Greek ability to host international sporting events.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/03/sports/athens-pins-olympic-bid-to-world-meet.html?pagewanted=print|title=Athens Pins Olympic Bid to World Meet|last=Longman|first=Jere|date=3 August 1997|work=The New York Times|access-date=23 September 2008}}</ref> Another factor that contributed to the Greek capital's selection was a growing sentiment among some IOC members to restore some original values of the Olympics to the Modern Games, a component which they felt was lost during the 1996 Summer Olympics.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/07/sports/athens-can-thank-atlanta-for-2004-games.html|title=Athens Can Thank Atlanta for 2004 Games|date=7 September 1997|first=Dave|last=Anderson|newspaper=The New York Times| access-date=25 May 2010|authorlink=Dave Anderson (sportswriter)}}</ref>

After leading all voting rounds, Athens easily defeated Rome in the fifth and final vote. [[Cape Town]], [[Stockholm]], and [[Buenos Aires]] (the latter won the rights to host the [[2018 Summer Youth Olympics]] in 2013), the three other cities that made the IOC shortlist, were eliminated in prior rounds of voting. Six other cities submitted applications, but their bids were dropped by the IOC in 1996. These cities were [[Istanbul]], [[Lille]], [[Rio de Janeiro]] (the latter won the rights to host the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in 2009), [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], [[Seville]], and [[Saint Petersburg]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/athens/election_uk.asp |title=International Olympic Committee – Athens 2004 – Election |publisher=Olympic.org |access-date=15 March 2010}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ 2004 host city election – ballot results
|-
! rowspan="2" | City
! rowspan="2" | Country
! colspan=5 | Round
|-
! 1
! Run-Off
! 2
! 3
! 4
|-
| [[Athens]] || {{flag|Greece}} || style="text-align:center;"| '''32''' || style="text-align:center;" | — || style="text-align:center;"| '''38''' || style="text-align:center;"| '''52''' || style="text-align:center;"| '''66'''
|-
| [[Rome]] || {{flag|Italy}} || style="text-align:center;"| 23 || style="text-align:center;" | — || style="text-align:center;"| 28 || style="text-align:center;"| 35 || style="text-align:center;"| 41
|-
| [[Cape Town]] || {{flag|South Africa}} || style="text-align:center;"| 16 || style="text-align:center;"| '''62''' || style="text-align:center;"| 22 || style="text-align:center;"| 20 || style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| [[Stockholm]] || {{flag|Sweden}} || style="text-align:center;"| 20 || style="text-align:center;" | — || style="text-align:center;"| 19 || style="text-align:center;" | — || style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| [[Buenos Aires]] || {{flag|Argentina}} || style="text-align:center;"| 16 || style="text-align:center;"| 44 || style="text-align:center;" | — || style="text-align:center;" | — || style="text-align:center;"| —
|}

==Development and preparation==

=== Costs ===
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games cost the [[Government of Greece]] near €9 billion to stage.<ref name=greekembassy>{{cite web|url=http://www.greekembassy.org/Embassy/content/en/Article.aspx?office=3&folder=200&article=14269|title=Cost of Athens 2004 Olympics|access-date=13 November 2004|work=Embassy of Greek|publisher=greekembassy.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219203443/http://www.greekembassy.org/Embassy/content/en/Article.aspx?office=3&folder=200&article=14269|archive-date=19 December 2007}}</ref> 
The Athens 2004 Organizing Committee (ATHOC), responsible for the preparation and organisation of the Games, concluded its operations as a company in 2005 with a surplus of [[Euro|€]]130.6 million.  The State's contribution to the total ATHOC budget was 8% of its expenditure against an originally anticipated 14%. The overall revenue of ATHOC, including income from tickets, sponsors, broadcasting rights, merchandise sales etc., totalled near €2.1 billion. The largest percentage of that income (38%) came from media rights. According to the cost-benefit evaluation of the impact of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games presented to the Greek Parliament in January 2013 by the Minister of Finance Mr. [[Yannis Stournaras|Giannis Stournaras]], the overall net economic benefit for Greece was positive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.in.gr/economy/article/?aid=1231231141|title= Στα 8,5 δισ. ευρώ το συνολικό ακαθάριστο κόστος των Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων του 2004date=18 January 2013 | date=18 January 2013 }}</ref>

The Greek Ministry of Finance reported in 2013 that the expenses of the Greek state for the Athens 2004 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including both infrastructure and organizational costs, reached the amount of €8.5 billion. The same report further explains that €2 billion of this amount was covered by the revenue of the ATHOC (from tickets, sponsors, broadcasting rights, merchandise sales etc.) and that another €2 billion was directly invested in upgrading hospitals and preserving archaeological sites.
Therefore, the net infrastructure costs related to the preparation of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games was €4.5 billion, substantially lower than the reported estimates,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3770981.stm|title=Olympics 'may cost Greece dear'|date=2 June 2004|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> and mainly included long-standing fixed asset investments in numerous municipal and transport infrastructures.

On the revenue side, the same report estimates that incremental tax revenues of approximately €3.5 billion arose from the increased activities caused by the Athens 2004 Olympic Games during the period 2000 to 2004. These tax revenues were paid directly to the Greek state specifically in the form of incremental social security contributions, income taxes and VAT tax paid by all the companies, professionals, and service providers that were directly involved with the Olympic Games. Moreover, it is reported that the Athens 2004 Olympic Games have had a great economic growth impact on the Greek economy, in the words of the Greek Minister of Finance, is that "as a result from the cost-benefit analysis, we reach the conclusion that there has been a net economic benefit from the Olympic Games".

===Comparison to other Olympic Games===

Cost per sporting event for Athens 2004 was US$9.8 million. This compares with US$14.9 million for Rio 2016, US$49.5 million for London 2012, and US$22.5 million for Beijing 2008. Average cost per event for the Summer Games since 1960 is US$19.9 million.

Cost per athlete for Athens 2004 was US$0.3 million. This compares with US$0.4 million for Rio 2016, US$1.4 million for London 2012, and US$0.6 million for Beijing 2008. Average cost per athlete for the Summer Games since 1960 is US$0.6 million.

Cost overrun for Athens 2004 was 49%, measured in real terms from the bid to host the Games. This compares with 51% for Rio 2016 and 76% for London 2012. Average cost overrun for the Summer Games since 1960 is 176%.

===Construction===
[[File:Faliro Sport Pavillion.jpg|thumb|[[Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena]]]]
By late March 2004, some Olympic projects were still behind schedule, and Greek authorities announced that a roof it had initially proposed as an optional, non-vital addition to the Aquatics Center would no longer be built. The main Olympic Stadium, the designated facility for the opening and closing ceremonies, was completed only two months before the Games opened. This stadium was completed with a retractable glass roof designed by Spanish architect [[Santiago Calatrava]]. The same architect also designed the [[Athens Olympic Sports Complex#Athens Olympic Velodrome|Velodrome]] and other facilities.

Infrastructure, such as the [[tram|tram line]] linking venues in southern Athens with the city centre, and numerous venues were considerably behind schedule just two months before the start of the Games. The subsequent pace of preparation, however, made the rush to finish the Athens venues one of the tightest in Olympics history. The Greeks, unperturbed, maintained that they would make it all along. By July/August 2004, all venues were delivered: in August, the Olympic Stadium was officially completed and opened, joined or preceded by the official completion and openings of other venues within the [[Athens Olympic Sports Complex]] (OAKA), and the sports complexes in Faliro and Helliniko.

[[File:Athens Velodrome.JPG|thumb|The Athens Olympic Velodrome, designed by [[Santiago Calatrava]], during the 2004 Olympic Games]]

Late July and early August witnessed the [[Athens Tram]] become operational, and this system provided additional connections to those already existing between Athens city centre and its waterfront communities along the [[Saronic Gulf]]. These communities included the port city of [[Piraeus]], Agios Kosmas (site of the sailing venue), Helliniko (the site of the old international airport which now contained the fencing venue, the canoe/kayak slalom course, the 15,000-seat [[Helliniko Olympic Arena|Helliniko Olympic Basketball Arena]], and the softball and baseball stadia), and the [[Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex]] (site of the taekwondo, handball, indoor volleyball, and beach volleyball venues, as well as the newly reconstructed [[Karaiskaki Stadium]] for football). The upgrades to the Athens Ring Road were also delivered just in time, as were the expressway upgrades connecting central Athens with peripheral areas such as Markopoulo (site of the shooting and equestrian venues), the newly constructed [[Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport]], Schinias (site of the rowing venue), Maroussi (site of the OAKA), Parnitha (site of the Olympic Village), Galatsi (site of the rhythmic gymnastics and table tennis venue), and Vouliagmeni (site of the triathlon venue). The upgrades to the [[Athens Metro]] were also completed, and the new lines became operational by mid-summer.

[[EMI]] released ''Unity'', the official pop album of the Athens Olympics, in the leadup to the Olympics.<ref name=unity/> It features contributions from [[Sting (musician)|Sting]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[Moby]], [[Destiny's Child]], and [[Avril Lavigne]].<ref name=unity/> EMI has pledged to donate [[US dollar|US$]]180,000 from the album to [[United Nations Children's Fund|UNICEF]]'s HIV/AIDS program in [[Sub-Saharan Africa]].<ref name=unity>{{cite news|url=http://www.star-ecentral.com/music/sleeve/notes.asp?file=archives/sleeve/2004/5/26/26UnityOlymp&date=5/26/2004/2 |title=Unity Olympics Album |work=The Star Online eCentral |year=2004 |access-date=16 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422033643/http://www.star-ecentral.com/music/sleeve/notes.asp?file=archives%2Fsleeve%2F2004%2F5%2F26%2F26UnityOlymp&date=5%2F26%2F2004%2F2 |archive-date=22 April 2008 }}</ref>

At least 14 people died during the work on the facilities. Most of these people were not from Greece.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3920919.stm |title=Workers in peril at Athens sites |work=BBC News |date=23 July 2004 |access-date=16 August 2008}}</ref>

Before the Games, Greek hotel staff staged a series of one-day strikes over wage disputes. They had been asking for a significant raise for the period covering the event being staged. [[Paramedic]]s and ambulance drivers also protested. They claimed to have the right to the same Olympic bonuses promised to their security force counterparts.

{{wide image|Athens Olympic Sports Complex Panorama.JPG|700px|Panorama of Athens Olympic Sports Complex.}}

==Torch relay==
[[File:Greece 2004 Olympics flame ceremony DSC04251.jpg|thumb|right|The ceremony for the lighting of the flame was arranged as a pagan pageant, with dancing priestesses.]]
{{Main|2004 Summer Olympics torch relay}}
[[File:Route of Olympic Flame Worldwide for the 2004 Summer Olympics.png|upright=1.45|thumb|The [[Olympic Flame]] [[2004 Olympic Torch Relay|toured the world]] for the first time.]]

The lighting ceremony of the [[Olympic flame]] took place on 25 March 2004 in [[Olympia, Greece|Ancient Olympia]]. For the first time ever, the flame travelled around the world in a [[2004 Olympic Torch Relay|relay]] to various Summer Olympic host cities (past and future) and other large cities, before returning to Greece.

==Broadcasting==
Athens Olympic Broadcasting served as the host broadcaster for the Games, providing over 35,000 hours of coverage to over 300 television channels around the world. Local rights to the Games were held by [[Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation|ERT]] which devoted their three channels ([[ERT1|ET1]], [[ERT2|NET]] and [[ERT3|ET3]]) to more than 24 hours of Olympic coverage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/global-tv-viewing-of-athens-2004-olympic-games-breaks-records|title=Global TV viewing of Athens 2004 Olympic Games breaks records|work=[[International Olympic Committee]]|date=12 October 2004|access-date=13 August 2023}}</ref>

===Online coverage===
For the first time, major broadcasters were allowed to serve video coverage of the Olympics over the Internet, provided that they restricted this service geographically, to protect broadcasting contracts in other areas.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pfanner |first=Eric |title=Athens Games beating Sydney in TV race |work=International Herald Tribune |date=30 August 2004 |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/08/30/tv30_ed3_.php |access-date=18 August 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912020526/http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/08/30/tv30_ed3_.php |archive-date=12 September 2007 }}</ref> The International Olympic Committee forbade Olympic athletes, as well as coaches, support personnel and other officials, from setting up specialized [[weblog]]s or other websites for covering their personal perspective of the Games. They were not allowed to post audio, video, or photos that they had taken. An exception was made if an athlete already has a personal website that was not set up specifically for the Games.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=You're Athletes, Not Journalists |magazine=Wired News |date=20 August 2004 |url=https://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,64650,00.html |access-date=18 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101145107/http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,64650,00.html |archive-date=1 January 2007 |url-status=live  }}</ref> [[NBC]] launched its own Olympic website, NBCOlympics.com. Focusing on the television coverage of the Games, it did provide video clips, medal standings, live results. Its main purpose, however, was to provide a schedule of what sports were on the many stations of NBC Universal. The Games were shown on television 24 hours a day, on one network or another.

==Technology==
[[File:TOC-01.jpg|thumb|View of the ATHOC Technology Operations Center during the Games.]]

As with any enterprise, the Organizing Committee and everyone involved with it relied heavily on technology in order to deliver a successful event. ATHOC maintained two separate data networks, one for the preparation of the Games (known as the Administrative network) and one for the Games themselves (Games Network). The technical infrastructure involved more than 11,000 computers, over 600 [[server (computing)|servers]], 2,000 [[Computer printer|printers]], 23,000 fixed-line telephone devices, 9,000 mobile phones, 12,000 [[TETRA]] devices, 16,000 TV and video devices and 17 Video Walls interconnected by more than 6,000&nbsp;kilometers of cabling (both [[optical fiber]] and [[twisted pair]]).

This infrastructure was created and maintained to serve directly more than 150,000 ATHOC Staff, Volunteers, Olympic family members ([[IOC]], [[National Olympic Committee|NOCs]], Federations), Partners & Sponsors and Media. It also kept the information flowing for all spectators, TV viewers, Website visitors and news readers around the world, prior and during the Games. The Media Center was located inside the [[Zappeion]] which is a Greek national exhibition center.

Between June and August 2004, the technology staff worked in the Technology Operations Center (TOC) from where it could centrally monitor and manage all the devices and flow of information, as well as handle any problems that occurred during the Games. The TOC was organized in teams (e.g. Systems, Telecommunications, Information Security, Data Network, Staffing, etc.) under a TOC Director and corresponding team leaders (Shift Managers). The TOC operated on a 24x7 basis with personnel organized into 12-hour shifts.

==The Games==

===Opening ceremony===
[[File:Olympic flame at opening ceremony.jpg|thumb|The [[Olympic Flame]] at the opening ceremony]]
{{Main|2004 Summer Olympics opening ceremony}}
The opening ceremony of the games, directed by choreographer [[Dimitris Papaioannou]] and produced by [[Jack Morton Worldwide]], led by project director [[David Zolkwer]], was held on 13 August 2004. It began with a twenty-eight (the number of the Olympiads up to then) second countdown paced by the sounds of an amplified heartbeat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/29/sports/olympics/29closing.html?ex=1148788800&en=1c65a34c3766781c&ei=5070&pagewanted=print|title=Master of Olympic Pageantry Prepares One Final Blowout|date=29 August 2004|newspaper=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press| access-date=25 May 2010 }}</ref> As the countdown was completed, fireworks rumbled and illuminated the skies overhead. After a drum corps and bouzouki players joined in an opening march, the video screen showed images of flight, crossing southwest from Athens over the Greek countryside to ancient Olympia. Then, a single drummer in the ancient stadium joined in a drum duet with a single drummer in the main stadium in Athens, joining the original ancient Olympic Games with the modern ones in symbolism.

At the end of the drum duet, a single flaming arrow was launched from the video screen (symbolically from ancient Olympia) and into the reflecting pool, which resulted in fire erupting in the middle of the stadium creating a burning image of the Olympic rings rising from the pool. The Opening Ceremony was a pageant of traditional Greek culture and history hearkening back to its mythological beginnings. The program began as a young Greek boy sailed into the stadium on a 'paper-ship' waving the host nation's flag to [[:wikt:aethereal|aethereal]] music by [[Manos Hatzidakis]] and then a [[centaur]] appeared, followed by a gigantic head of a [[cycladic]] figurine which eventually broke into many pieces symbolising the Greek islands. Underneath the cycladic head was a Hellenistic representation of the human body, reflecting the concept and belief in perfection reflected in Greek art. A man was seen balancing on a hovering cube symbolising man's eternal 'split' between passion and reason followed by a couple of young lovers playfully chasing each other while the god [[Eros (mythology)|Eros]] was hovering above them. There followed a very colourful float parade chronicling Greek history from the ancient [[Minoan civilization]] to modern times.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Greek 2004 Olympics Footage (Squence).jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|left|This Ceremony Showing The Kotinos Appearing On Screen]] -->

Although [[NBC]] in the United States presented the entire opening ceremony from start to finish, a topless Minoan priestess was shown only briefly, the breasts having been [[pixelation|pixelated]] digitally in order to avoid controversy (as the "[[Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy|Nipplegate]]" incident was still fresh in viewer's minds at the time) and potential fines by the [[Federal Communications Commission]]. Also, lower frontal nudity of men dressed as ancient Greek statues was shown in such a way that the area below the waist was cut off by the bottom of the screen. Overall, NBC's coverage of the Olympics has been praised, and the company was awarded with 6 [[Emmy Award]]s for its coverage of the Games and technical production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2004/08/30/news/fortune500/nbc_olympics/|title=Athens Olympics close, and NBC cashes in - Aug. 30, 2004|website=money.cnn.com}}</ref><ref name="FCC">{{cite web |last1=Grohmann |first1=Karolos |title=Olympics chief rebuffs lewd claims |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/28774/article/ekathimerini/news/olympics-chief-rebuffs-lewd-claims |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128103103/https://www.ekathimerini.com/28774/article/ekathimerini/news/olympics-chief-rebuffs-lewd-claims |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 November 2020 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=13 May 2020 |date=19 January 2005 }}</ref> Additionally, NBC televised all 28 sports in the 2004 Games, becoming the first broadcaster to do so.<ref name=Soriano>{{cite web|title=Volleyball Well Represented by NBC's Around-the-Clock Olympic TV Coverage|url=http://www.olympic-usa.org/73_22288.htm|work=Olympic-USA.org|access-date=2008-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041227103848/http://www.olympic-usa.org/73_22288.htm|archive-date=2004-12-27|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Following the artistic performances, a parade of nations entered the stadium with over 10,500 athletes walking under the banners of 201 nations. The nations were arranged according to [[Greek alphabet]] making the [[Philippines]], [[Finland]], [[Fiji]], [[Chile]], and [[Hong Kong]] the last five to enter the stadium before the Greek delegation. On this occasion, in observance of the tradition that the delegation of Greece opens the parade and the host nation closes it, the Greek flag bearer opened the parade and all the Greek delegation closed it. Based on audience reaction, the emotional high point of the parade was the entrance of the delegation from [[Afghanistan]] which had been absent from the Olympics and had female competitors for the first time. The [[Iraq]]i delegation also stirred emotions. Also recognized was the symbolic unified march of athletes from [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]] under the [[Korea]]n [[Unification Flag]].{{efn|The national teams of [[North Korea at the 2004 Summer Olympics|North Korea]] and [[South Korea at the 2004 Summer Olympics|South Korea]] competed separately in the Olympic events, even though they marched together as a [[Korea Team|unified Korean team]] in the opening ceremony. Later, in [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing]], the two Koreas marched separately. In [[2018 Winter Olympics|Pyeongchang]], these countries marched and competed together as host, bearing the name ''United Korean''.}} The country of [[Kiribati]] made its debut appearance at these Games and [[East Timor]] made a debut under its own flag. After the Parade of Nations, during which the Dutch [[Tiësto|DJ Tiësto]] provided the music, the [[Iceland]]ic singer [[Björk]] performed the song "[[Oceania (song)|Oceania]]", written specially for the event by her and the poet [[Sjón]].

The opening ceremony culminated in the lighting of the Olympic cauldron by 1996 gold medalist windsurfer [[Nikolaos Kaklamanakis]]. Many key moments in the ceremony, including the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, featured music composed and arranged by New Zealand composer [[John Psathas]].<ref>{{cite web |title=SOUNZ – NZ composer – John Psathas |url=http://sounz.org.nz/contributor/composer/1017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106000649/http://www.sounz.org.nz/contributor/composer/1017 |archive-date=6 January 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=7 August 2009 }}</ref> The gigantic cauldron, which was styled after the Athens 2004 Olympic torch, pivoted down to be lit by the 35-year-old, before slowly swinging up and lifting the flame above the stadium. Following this, a fireworks display commenced to conclude the ceremony.

===Participating National Olympic Committees===
[[File:2004 Summer Olympic games countries.svg|thumb|Participating nations]]
[[File:2004 Summer Olympics team numbers.svg|thumb|Team numbers]]
All [[National Olympic Committee]]s (NOCs) except [[Djibouti]] participated in the Athens Games. Two new NOCs had been created since 2000 and made their debut at these Games ([[Kiribati at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Kiribati]] and [[East Timor at the 2004 Summer Olympics|East Timor]]). Therefore, with the return of [[Afghanistan]] (who had been banned from the [[2000 Summer Olympics]]), the number of participating nations increased from 199 to 201. Additionally, Yugoslavia had changed its name the year prior to [[Serbia and Montenegro]] and its code from YUG to SCG;<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2724047.stm |title= Yugoslavia consigned to history |date= 4 February 2003 |work= BBC News |access-date= 29 July 2020 |archive-date= 8 November 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221108060047/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2724047.stm |url-status= live }}</ref> the country would dissolve two years later,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5043462.stm |title=Montenegro declares independence |date=4 June 2006 |work=BBC News |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-date=11 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911232150/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5043462.stm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5006380.stm |title=Recount call in Montenegro vote |date=22 May 2006 |work=BBC News |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728085307/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5006380.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> making this its only Olympics appearance under the new moniker. [[Georgia at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Georgia]]'s new flag made its debut at the Olympics by unfurling it at the opening ceremony on 13 August. It replaces the post-Soviet flag, which had been used since [[1994 Winter Olympics|Lillehammer 1994]].

In the table below, the number in parentheses indicates the number of participants contributed by each NOC.

<div class="center" >
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Participating [[:Category:Nations at the 2004 Summer Olympics|National Olympic Committees]]
|-
|
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*{{flagIOC|AFG|2004 Summer|5 athletes}}
*{{flagIOC|ALB|2004 Summer|7}}
*{{flagIOC|ALG|2004 Summer|61}}
*{{flagIOC|ASA|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|AND|2004 Summer|6}}
*{{flagIOC|ANG|2004 Summer|30}}
*{{flagIOC|ANT|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|ARG|2004 Summer|152}}
*{{flagIOC|ARM|2004 Summer|18}}
*{{flagIOC|ARU|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|AUS|2004 Summer|470}}
*{{flagIOC|AUT|2004 Summer|74}}
*{{flagIOC|AZE|2004 Summer|36}}
*{{flagIOC|BAH|2004 Summer|22}}
*{{flagIOC|BRN|2004 Summer|10}}
*{{flagIOC|BAN|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|BAR|2004 Summer|10}}
*{{flagIOC|BLR|2004 Summer|151}}
*{{flagIOC|BEL|2004 Summer|50}}
*{{flagIOC|BIZ|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|BEN|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|BER|2004 Summer|10}}
*{{flagIOC|BHU|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|BOL|2004 Summer|7}}
*{{flagIOC|BIH|2004 Summer|9}}
*{{flagIOC|BOT|2004 Summer|11}}
*{{flagIOC|BRA|2004 Summer|243}}
*{{flagIOC|IVB|2004 Summer|1}}
*{{flagIOC|BRU|2004 Summer|1}}
*{{flagIOC|BUL|2004 Summer|95}}
*{{flagIOC|BUR|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|BDI|2004 Summer|7}}
*{{flagIOC|CAM|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|CMR|2004 Summer|17}}
*{{flagIOC|CAN|2004 Summer|262}}
*{{flagIOC|CPV|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|CAY|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|CAF|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|CHA|2004 Summer|1}}
*{{flagIOC|CHI|2004 Summer|22}}
*{{flagIOC|CHN|2004 Summer|383}}
*{{flagIOC|COL|2004 Summer|53}}
*{{flagIOC|COM|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|CGO|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|COK|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|CRC|2004 Summer|20}}
*{{flagIOC|CRO|2004 Summer|81}}
*{{flagIOC|CUB|2004 Summer|151}}
*{{flagIOC|CYP|2004 Summer|20}}
*{{flagIOC|CZE|2004 Summer|142}}
*{{flagIOC|COD|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|DEN|2004 Summer|92}}
*{{flagIOC|DMA|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|DOM|2004 Summer|33}}
*{{flagIOC|ECU|2004 Summer|16}}
*{{flagIOC|EGY|2004 Summer|97}}
*{{flagIOC|ESA|2004 Summer|7}}
*{{flagIOC|GEQ|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|ERI|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|EST|2004 Summer|42}}
*{{flagIOC|ETH|2004 Summer|26}}
*{{flagIOC|FSM|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|FIJ|2004 Summer|8}}
*{{flagIOC|FIN|2004 Summer|53}}
*{{flagIOC|FRA|2004 Summer|308}}
*{{flagIOC|GAB|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|GAM|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|GEO|2004 Summer|32}}
*{{flagIOC|GER|2004 Summer|441}}
*{{flagIOC|GHA|2004 Summer|26}}
*{{flagIOC|GBR|2004 Summer|264}}
*{{flagIOC|GRE|2004 Summer|426}} '''(host)'''
*{{flagIOC|GRN|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|GUM|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|GUA|2004 Summer|18}}
*{{flagIOC|GUI|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|GBS|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|GUY|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|HAI|2004 Summer|8}}
*{{flagIOC|HON|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|HKG|2004 Summer|32}}
*{{flagIOC|HUN|2004 Summer|209}}
*{{flagIOC|ISL|2004 Summer|26}}
*{{flagIOC|IND|2004 Summer|73}}
*{{flagIOC|INA|2004 Summer|38}}
*{{flagIOC|IRI|2004 Summer|37}}
*{{flagIOC|IRQ|2004 Summer|24}}
*{{flagIOC|IRL|2004 Summer|46}}
*{{flagIOC|ISR|2004 Summer|36}}
*{{flagIOC|ITA|2004 Summer|364}}
*{{flagIOC|CIV|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|JAM|2004 Summer|47}}
*{{flagIOC|JPN|2004 Summer|306}}
*{{flagIOC|JOR|2004 Summer|8}}
*{{flagIOC|KAZ|2004 Summer|114}}
*{{flagIOC|KEN|2004 Summer|46}}
*{{flagIOC|KIR|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|PRK|2004 Summer|36}}
*{{flagIOC|KOR|2004 Summer|264}}
*{{flagIOC|KUW|2004 Summer|11}}
*{{flagIOC|KGZ|2004 Summer|29}}
*{{flagIOC|LAO|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|LAT|2004 Summer|32}}
*{{flagIOC|LIB|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|LES|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|LBR|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|LBA|2004 Summer|8}}
*{{flagIOC|LIE|2004 Summer|1}}
*{{flagIOC|LTU|2004 Summer|59}}
*{{flagIOC|LUX|2004 Summer|10}}
*{{flagIOC|MKD|2004 Summer|10}}
*{{flagIOC|MAD|2004 Summer|8}}
*{{flagIOC|MAW|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|MAS|2004 Summer|26}}
*{{flagIOC|MDV|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|MLI|2004 Summer|21}}
*{{flagIOC|MLT|2004 Summer|7}}
*{{flagIOC|MTN|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|MRI|2004 Summer|9}}
*{{flagIOC|MEX|2004 Summer|109}}
*{{flagIOC|MDA|2004 Summer|33}}
*{{flagIOC|MON|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|MGL|2004 Summer|20}}
*{{flagIOC|MAR|2004 Summer|55}}
*{{flagIOC|MOZ|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|MYA|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|NAM|2004 Summer|8}}
*{{flagIOC|NRU|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|NEP|2004 Summer|6}}
*{{flagIOC|NED|2004 Summer|210}}
*{{flagIOC|AHO|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|NZL|2004 Summer|148}}
*{{flagIOC|NCA|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|NIG|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|NGR|2004 Summer|70}}
*{{flagIOC|NOR|2004 Summer|52}}
*{{flagIOC|OMA|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|PAK|2004 Summer|26}}
*{{flagIOC|PLW|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|PLE|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|PAN|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|PNG|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|PAR|2004 Summer|22}}
*{{flagIOC|PER|2004 Summer|12}}
*{{flagIOC|PHI|2004 Summer|16}}
*{{flagIOC|POL|2004 Summer|194}}
*{{flagIOC|POR|2004 Summer|81}}
*{{flagIOC|PUR|2004 Summer|43}}
*{{flagIOC|QAT|2004 Summer|15}}
*{{flagIOC|ROU|2004 Summer|108}}
*{{flagIOC|RUS|2004 Summer|446}}
*{{flagIOC|RWA|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|SKN|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|LCA|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|VIN|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|SAM|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|SMR|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|STP|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|KSA|2004 Summer|16}}
*{{flagIOC|SEN|2004 Summer|15}}
*{{flagIOC|SCG|2004 Summer|85}}
*{{flagIOC|SEY|2004 Summer|9}}
*{{flagIOC|SLE|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|SIN|2004 Summer|16}}
*{{flagIOC|SVK|2004 Summer|64}}
*{{flagIOC|SLO|2004 Summer|79}}
*{{flagIOC|SOL|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|SOM|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|RSA|2004 Summer|106}}
*{{flagIOC|ESP|2004 Summer|316}}
*{{flagIOC|SRI|2004 Summer|7}}
*{{flagIOC|SUD|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|SUR|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|SWZ|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|SWE|2004 Summer|115}}
*{{flagIOC|SUI|2004 Summer|98}}
*{{flagIOC|SYR|2004 Summer|6}}
*{{flagIOC|TPE|2004 Summer|88}}
*{{flagIOC|TJK|2004 Summer|9}}
*{{flagIOC|TAN|2004 Summer|8}}
*{{flagIOC|THA|2004 Summer|42}}
*{{flagIOC|TLS|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|TOG|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|TGA|2004 Summer|5}}
*{{flagIOC|TRI|2004 Summer|19}}
*{{flagIOC|TUN|2004 Summer|54}}
*{{flagIOC|TUR|2004 Summer|64}}
*{{flagIOC|TKM|2004 Summer|9}}
*{{flagIOC|UGA|2004 Summer|11}}
*{{flagIOC|UKR|2004 Summer|239}}
*{{flagIOC|UAE|2004 Summer|4}}
*{{flagIOC|USA|2004 Summer|533}}
*{{flagIOC|URU|2004 Summer|15}}
*{{flagIOC|UZB|2004 Summer|69}}
*{{flagIOC|VAN|2004 Summer|2}}
*{{flagIOC|VEN|2004 Summer|48}}
*{{flagIOC|VIE|2004 Summer|11}}
*{{flagIOC|ISV|2004 Summer|6}}
*{{flagIOC|YEM|2004 Summer|3}}
*{{flagIOC|ZAM|2004 Summer|6}}
*{{flagIOC|ZIM|2004 Summer|12}}
{{div col end}}
|}
</div>
* Four athletes from {{flagIOC|DJI}} took part in the opening ceremony, but for reasons unknown, they did not compete at the Games.<ref>{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Track and Field|last1=Matthews|first1=Peter|publisher=Scarecrow Press|date=22 March 2012|page=xciv}}</ref>

===Number of athletes by National Olympic Committee===
10,557 [[athlete]]s from 201 [[National Olympic Committee|NOCs]] participated in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
{{sticky table start}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-table-head" style="border:0;"
|- 
! [[List of IOC country codes|IOC Letter Code]]
! Country
! Athletes
|-
| AFG || {{flagIOC|AFG|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| ALB || {{flagIOC|ALB|2004 Summer}} || 7
|-
| ALG || {{flagIOC|ALG|2004 Summer}} || 61
|-
| ASA || {{flagIOC|ASA|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| AND || {{flagIOC|AND|2004 Summer}} || 6
|-
| ANG || {{flagIOC|ANG|2004 Summer}} || 30
|-
| ANT || {{flagIOC|ANT|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| ARG || {{flagIOC|ARG|2004 Summer}} || 152
|-
| ARM || {{flagIOC|ARM|2004 Summer}} || 18
|-
| ARU || {{flagIOC|ARU|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| AUS || {{flagIOC|AUS|2004 Summer}} || 470
|-
| AUT || {{flagIOC|AUT|2004 Summer}} || 74
|-
| AZE || {{flagIOC|AZE|2004 Summer}} || 36
|-
| BAH || {{flagIOC|BAH|2004 Summer}} || 22
|-
| BRN || {{flagIOC|BRN|2004 Summer}} || 10
|-
| BAN || {{flagIOC|BAN|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| BAR || {{flagIOC|BAR|2004 Summer}} || 10
|-
| BLR || {{flagIOC|BLR|2004 Summer}} || 151
|-
| BEL || {{flagIOC|BEL|2004 Summer}} || 50
|-
| BIZ || {{flagIOC|BIZ|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| BEN || {{flagIOC|BEN|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| BER || {{flagIOC|BER|2004 Summer}} || 10
|-
| BHU || {{flagIOC|BHU|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| BOL || {{flagIOC|BOL|2004 Summer}} || 7
|-
| BIH || {{flagIOC|BIH|2004 Summer}} || 9
|-
| BOT || {{flagIOC|BOT|2004 Summer}} || 11
|-
| BRA || {{flagIOC|BRA|2004 Summer}} || 243
|-
| IVB || {{flagIOC|IVB|2004 Summer}} || 1
|-
| BRU || {{flagIOC|BRU|2004 Summer}} || 1
|-
| BUL || {{flagIOC|BUL|2004 Summer}} || 95
|-
| BUR || {{flagIOC|BUR|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| BDI || {{flagIOC|BDI|2004 Summer}} || 7
|-
| CAM || {{flagIOC|CAM|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| CMR || {{flagIOC|CMR|2004 Summer}} || 17
|-
| CAN || {{flagIOC|CAN|2004 Summer}} || 262
|-
| CPV || {{flagIOC|CPV|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| CAY || {{flagIOC|CAY|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| CAF || {{flagIOC|CAF|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| CHA || {{flagIOC|CHA|2004 Summer}} || 1
|-
| CHI || {{flagIOC|CHI|2004 Summer}} || 22
|-
| CHN || {{flagIOC|CHN|2004 Summer}} || 383
|-
| COL || {{flagIOC|COL|2004 Summer}} || 53
|-
| COM || {{flagIOC|COM|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| CGO || {{flagIOC|CGO|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| COK || {{flagIOC|COK|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| CRC || {{flagIOC|CRC|2004 Summer}} || 20
|-
| CRO || {{flagIOC|CRO|2004 Summer}} || 81
|-
| CUB || {{flagIOC|CUB|2004 Summer}} || 151
|-
| CYP || {{flagIOC|CYP|2004 Summer}} || 20
|-
| CZE || {{flagIOC|CZE|2004 Summer}} || 142
|-
| COD || {{flagIOC|COD|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| DEN || {{flagIOC|DEN|2004 Summer}} || 92
|-
| DMA || {{flagIOC|DMA|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| DOM || {{flagIOC|DOM|2004 Summer}} || 33
|-
| ECU || {{flagIOC|ECU|2004 Summer}} || 16
|-
| EGY || {{flagIOC|EGY|2004 Summer}} || 97
|-
| ESA || {{flagIOC|ESA|2004 Summer}} || 7
|-
| GEQ || {{flagIOC|GEQ|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| ERI || {{flagIOC|ERI|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| EST || {{flagIOC|EST|2004 Summer}} || 42
|-
| ETH || {{flagIOC|ETH|2004 Summer}} || 26
|-
| FSM || {{flagIOC|FSM|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| FIJ || {{flagIOC|FIJ|2004 Summer}} || 8
|-
| FIN || {{flagIOC|FIN|2004 Summer}} || 53
|-
| FRA || {{flagIOC|FRA|2004 Summer}} || 308
|-
| GAB || {{flagIOC|GAB|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| GAM || {{flagIOC|GAM|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| GEO || {{flagIOC|GEO|2004 Summer}} || 32
|-
| GER || {{flagIOC|GER|2004 Summer}} || 441
|-
| GHA || {{flagIOC|GHA|2004 Summer}} || 26
|-
| GBR || {{flagIOC|GBR|2004 Summer}} || 264
|-
| GRE || {{flagIOC|GRE|2004 Summer}} || 426
|-
| GRN || {{flagIOC|GRN|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| GUM || {{flagIOC|GUM|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| GUA || {{flagIOC|GUA|2004 Summer}} || 18
|-
| GUI || {{flagIOC|GUI|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| GBS || {{flagIOC|GBS|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| GUY || {{flagIOC|GUY|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| HAI || {{flagIOC|HAI|2004 Summer}} || 8
|-
| HON || {{flagIOC|HON|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| HKG || {{flagIOC|HKG|2004 Summer}} || 32
|-
| HUN || {{flagIOC|HUN|2004 Summer}} || 209
|-
| ISL || {{flagIOC|ISL|2004 Summer}} || 26
|-
| IND || {{flagIOC|IND|2004 Summer}} || 73
|-
| INA || {{flagIOC|INA|2004 Summer}} || 38
|-
| IRI || {{flagIOC|IRI|2004 Summer}} || 37
|-
| IRQ || {{flagIOC|IRQ|2004 Summer}} || 24
|-
| IRL || {{flagIOC|IRL|2004 Summer}} || 46
|-
| ISR || {{flagIOC|ISR|2004 Summer}} || 36
|-
| ITA || {{flagIOC|ITA|2004 Summer}} || 364
|-
| CIV || {{flagIOC|CIV|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| JAM || {{flagIOC|JAM|2004 Summer}} || 47
|-
| JPN || {{flagIOC|JPN|2004 Summer}} || 306
|-
| JOR || {{flagIOC|JOR|2004 Summer}} || 8
|-
| KAZ || {{flagIOC|KAZ|2004 Summer}} || 114
|-
| KEN || {{flagIOC|KEN|2004 Summer}} || 46
|-
| KIR || {{flagIOC|KIR|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| PRK || {{flagIOC|PRK|2004 Summer}} || 36
|-
| KOR || {{flagIOC|KOR|2004 Summer}} || 264
|-
| KUW || {{flagIOC|KUW|2004 Summer}} || 11
|-
| KGZ || {{flagIOC|KGZ|2004 Summer}} || 29
|-
| LAO || {{flagIOC|LAO|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| LAT || {{flagIOC|LAT|2004 Summer}} || 32
|-
| LIB || {{flagIOC|LIB|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| LES || {{flagIOC|LES|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| LBR || {{flagIOC|LBR|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| LBA || {{flagIOC|LBA|2004 Summer}} || 8
|-
| LIE || {{flagIOC|LIE|2004 Summer}} || 1
|-
| LTU || {{flagIOC|LTU|2004 Summer}} || 59
|-
| LUX || {{flagIOC|LUX|2004 Summer}} || 10
|-
| MKD || {{flagIOC|MKD|2004 Summer}} || 10
|-
| MAD || {{flagIOC|MAD|2004 Summer}} || 8
|-
| MAW || {{flagIOC|MAW|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| MAS || {{flagIOC|MAS|2004 Summer}} || 26
|-
| MDV || {{flagIOC|MDV|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| MLI || {{flagIOC|MLI|2004 Summer}} || 21
|-
| MLT || {{flagIOC|MLT|2004 Summer}} || 7
|-
| MTN || {{flagIOC|MTN|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| MRI || {{flagIOC|MRI|2004 Summer}} || 9
|-
| MEX || {{flagIOC|MEX|2004 Summer}} || 109
|-
| MDA || {{flagIOC|MDA|2004 Summer}} || 33
|-
| MON || {{flagIOC|MON|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| MGL || {{flagIOC|MGL|2004 Summer}} || 20
|-
| MAR || {{flagIOC|MAR|2004 Summer}} || 55
|-
| MOZ || {{flagIOC|MOZ|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| MYA || {{flagIOC|MYA|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| NAM || {{flagIOC|NAM|2004 Summer}} || 8
|-
| NRU || {{flagIOC|NRU|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| NEP || {{flagIOC|NEP|2004 Summer}} || 6
|-
| NED || {{flagIOC|NED|2004 Summer}} || 210
|-
| AHO || {{flagIOC|AHO|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| NZL || {{flagIOC|NZL|2004 Summer}} || 148
|-
| NCA || {{flagIOC|NCA|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| NIG || {{flagIOC|NIG|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| NGR || {{flagIOC|NGR|2004 Summer}} || 70
|-
| NOR || {{flagIOC|NOR|2004 Summer}} || 52
|-
| OMA || {{flagIOC|OMA|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| PAK || {{flagIOC|PAK|2004 Summer}} || 26
|-
| PLW || {{flagIOC|PLW|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| PLE || {{flagIOC|PLE|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| PAN || {{flagIOC|PAN|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| PNG || {{flagIOC|PNG|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| PAR || {{flagIOC|PAR|2004 Summer}} || 22
|-
| PER || {{flagIOC|PER|2004 Summer}} || 12
|-
| PHI || {{flagIOC|PHI|2004 Summer}} || 16
|-
| POL || {{flagIOC|POL|2004 Summer}} || 194
|-
| POR || {{flagIOC|POR|2004 Summer}} || 81
|-
| PUR || {{flagIOC|PUR|2004 Summer}} || 43
|-
| QAT || {{flagIOC|QAT|2004 Summer}} || 15
|-
| ROU || {{flagIOC|ROU|2004 Summer}} || 108
|-
| RUS || {{flagIOC|RUS|2004 Summer}} || 446
|-
| RWA || {{flagIOC|RWA|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| SKN || {{flagIOC|SKN|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| LCA || {{flagIOC|LCA|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| VIN || {{flagIOC|VIN|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| STP || {{flagIOC|STP|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| SAM || {{flagIOC|SAM|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| SMR || {{flagIOC|SMR|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| KSA || {{flagIOC|KSA|2004 Summer}} || 16
|-
| SEN || {{flagIOC|SEN|2004 Summer}} || 15
|-
| SCG || {{flagIOC|SCG|2004 Summer}} || 85
|-
| SEY || {{flagIOC|SEY|2004 Summer}} || 9
|-
| SLE || {{flagIOC|SLE|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| SIN || {{flagIOC|SIN|2004 Summer}} || 16
|-
| SVK || {{flagIOC|SVK|2004 Summer}} || 64
|-
| SLO || {{flagIOC|SLO|2004 Summer}} || 79
|-
| SOL || {{flagIOC|SOL|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| SOM || {{flagIOC|SOM|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| RSA || {{flagIOC|RSA|2004 Summer}} || 106
|-
| ESP || {{flagIOC|ESP|2004 Summer}} || 316
|-
| SRI || {{flagIOC|SRI|2004 Summer}} || 7
|-
| SUD || {{flagIOC|SUD|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| SUR || {{flagIOC|SUR|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| SWZ || {{flagIOC|SWZ|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| SWE || {{flagIOC|SWE|2004 Summer}} || 115
|-
| SUI || {{flagIOC|SUI|2004 Summer}} || 98
|-
| SYR || {{flagIOC|SYR|2004 Summer}} || 6
|-
| TPE || {{flagIOC|TPE|2004 Summer}} || 88
|-
| TJK || {{flagIOC|TJK|2004 Summer}} || 9
|-
| TAN || {{flagIOC|TAN|2004 Summer}} || 8
|-
| THA || {{flagIOC|THA|2004 Summer}} || 42
|-
| TLS || {{flagIOC|TLS|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| TOG || {{flagIOC|TOG|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| TGA || {{flagIOC|TGA|2004 Summer}} || 5
|-
| TRI || {{flagIOC|TRI|2004 Summer}} || 19
|-
| TUN || {{flagIOC|TUN|2004 Summer}} || 54
|-
| TUR || {{flagIOC|TUR|2004 Summer}} || 64
|-
| TKM || {{flagIOC|TKM|2004 Summer}} || 9
|-
| UGA || {{flagIOC|UGA|2004 Summer}} || 11
|-
| UKR || {{flagIOC|UKR|2004 Summer}} || 239
|-
| UAE || {{flagIOC|UAE|2004 Summer}} || 4
|-
| USA || {{flagIOC|USA|2004 Summer}} || 533
|-
| URU || {{flagIOC|URU|2004 Summer}} || 15
|-
| UZB || {{flagIOC|UZB|2004 Summer}} || 69
|-
| VAN || {{flagIOC|VAN|2004 Summer}} || 2
|-
| VEN || {{flagIOC|VEN|2004 Summer}} || 48
|-
| VIE || {{flagIOC|VIE|2004 Summer}} || 11
|-
| ISV || {{flagIOC|ISV|2004 Summer}} || 6
|-
| YEM || {{flagIOC|YEM|2004 Summer}} || 3
|-
| ZAM || {{flagIOC|ZAM|2004 Summer}} || 6
|-
| ZIM || {{flagIOC|ZIM|2004 Summer}} || 12
|}
{{sticky table end}}

===Sports===
<!--

Editors, see User:Jared/2004 events for a list of events at these games, with links to all of the pages.

-->The sports featured at the 2004 Summer Olympics are listed below. Officially there were 301 events in 28 sports as swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and water polo are classified by the IOC as disciplines within the sport of [[Aquatic sports|aquatics]], and [[wheelchair racing]] was a demonstration sport. For the first time, the wrestling category featured women's wrestling and in the fencing competition women competed in the [[Fencing (sport)#Sabre|sabre]]. American [[Kristin Heaston]], who led off the qualifying round of women's shot put became the first woman to compete at the ancient site of Olympia.

The demonstration sport of wheelchair racing was a joint Olympic/[[Paralympic Games|Paralympic]] event, allowing a Paralympic event to occur within the Olympics, and for the future, opening up the wheelchair race to the able-bodied. The [[2004 Summer Paralympics]] were also held in Athens, from 17 to 28 September.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!2004 Summer Olympic Sports Programme
|-
|
{{col-begin}}
{{Col-1-of-4}}
*Aquatics
**{{GamesSport|Diving|Events=8|Format=d}}
**{{GamesSport|Swimming|Events=32|Format=d}}
**{{GamesSport|Synchronized swimming|Events=2|Format=d}}
**{{GamesSport|Water polo|Events=2|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Archery|Events=4|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Athletics|Events=46|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Badminton|Events=5|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Baseball|Events=1|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Basketball|Events=2|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Boxing|Events=11|Format=d}}
{{Col-2-of-4}}
*{{GamesSport|Canoeing|Format=d}}
**Sprint <small>(12)</small>
**Slalom <small>(4)</small>
*{{GamesSport|Cycling|Format=d}}
**Road <small>(4)</small>
**Track <small>(12)</small>
**Mountain biking <small>(2)</small>
*{{GamesSport|Equestrian|Format=d}}
**Dressage <small>(2)</small>
**Eventing <small>(2)</small>
**Show jumping <small>(2)</small>
*{{GamesSport|Fencing|Events=10|Format=d}}
{{Col-3-of-4}}
*{{GamesSport|Field hockey|Events=2|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Football|Events=2|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Gymnastics|Format=d}}
**Artistic <small>(14)</small>
**Rhythmic <small>(2)</small>
**Trampoline <small>(2)</small>
*{{GamesSport|Handball|Events=2|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Judo|Events=14|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Modern pentathlon|Events=2|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Rowing|Events=14|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Sailing|Events=11|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Shooting|Events=17|Format=d}}
{{Col-4-of-4}}
*{{GamesSport|Softball|Events=1|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Table tennis|Events=4|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Taekwondo|Events=8|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Tennis|Events=4|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Triathlon|Events=2|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Volleyball|Format=d}}
**Volleyball <small>(2)</small>
**Beach volleyball <small>(2)</small>
*{{GamesSport|Weightlifting|Events=15|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Wrestling|Format=d}}
**Freestyle <small>(11)</small>
**Greco-Roman <small>(7)</small>
{{col-end}}
|}

===Gallery===
<gallery>
USA Men's Lightweight Four Athens 2004.jpg|USA [[Rowing at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's lightweight coxless four|men's lightweight coxless four at Athens Olympics]]
Athens archery.jpg|Archery rounds in the [[Panathenaic Stadium]]
Roger federer athens.jpg|[[Roger Federer]] representing [[Switzerland]] in [[Tennis at the 2004 Summer Olympics|tennis]]
0408 USA Olympic fencing.jpg|Russian [[Igor Turchin (fencer)|Igor Turchin]] (left) and American [[Weston Kelsey]] (right) duel in second round of [[Fencing at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's épée|men's individual épée]]
</gallery>

===Calendar===
:''All times are in [[Eastern European Summer Time]] ([[UTC+3]])''
<section begin="Calendar"/><div align="center">
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:90%;position:relative;width:75%;"
|-
| style="background-color:#00cc33;text-align:center;" |&nbsp;'''OC'''&nbsp;||Opening ceremony|| style="background-color:#3399ff;text-align:center;" |&nbsp;●&nbsp;||Event competitions || style="background-color:#ffcc00;text-align:center;" |&nbsp;'''1'''&nbsp;||Gold medal events || style="background-color:#FF8888;text-align:center;" |&nbsp;'''CC'''&nbsp;||Closing ceremony
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:90%; line-height:1.25em; width:75%; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=2|August 2004 !!11th<br>Wed!!12th<br>Thu!!13th<br>Fri!!14th<br>Sat!!15th<br>Sun!!16th<br>Mon!!17th<br>Tue!!18th<br>Wed!!19th<br>Thu!!20th<br>Fri!!21st<br>Sat!!22nd<br>Sun!!23rd<br>Mon!!24th<br>Tue!!25th<br>Wed!!26th<br>Thu!!27th<br>Fri!!28th<br>Sat!!29th<br>Sun!!Events
|-
| colspan=2| [[File:Olympic Rings black.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] Ceremonies || || || style="background-color:#00cc33;" |'''OC'''|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || style="background-color:#FF8888;" |'''CC'''||{{n/a}}
|-

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="4" | Aquatics 
| style="text-align:left;" | [[File:Diving pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Diving at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Diving]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
|  
| 
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
| rowspan="4" | '''44'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" | [[File:Swimming pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Swimming]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''4'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''4'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''4'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''4'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''4'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''4'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''4'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''4'''
|
|
|
| 
|
|
|
|
|-

| style="text-align:left;" | {{nowrap|[[File:Synchronized swimming pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Synchronized swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Synchronized swimming]]}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''1'''
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''1'''
|
|
|-

| style="text-align:left;" | [[File:Water polo pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Water polo at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Water polo]]
|
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Archery pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Archery at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Archery]]
|
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|'''4''' 
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2|[[File:Athletics pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Athletics]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''2'''
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''3'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''5'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''6'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''6'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''3'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''3'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''7'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''8'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''1'''
| '''46'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Badminton pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Badminton]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| '''5'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2" | Baseball/Softball
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:Baseball pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Baseball at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Baseball]]
|
|
|
| 
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| 
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
| 
|
|
| rowspan="2" |'''2'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:Softball pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Softball]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Basketball pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Basketball]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
|
| '''2'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Boxing pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Boxing at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Boxing]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''5'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''6'''
| '''11'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2" | [[Canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Canoeing]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Canoeing (slalom) pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] Slalom
|
|
|
|
|
| 
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| rowspan="2" | '''16''' 
|-

| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Canoeing (flatwater) pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] Sprint
|
|
|
|
|
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''6'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''6'''
|
|-

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3" | [[Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Cycling]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Cycling (road) pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] Road cycling
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
|
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
|
|  
|
| rowspan="3" | '''18'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Cycling (track) pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] Track cycling
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''3'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''3'''
|
|
|  
|
|-

| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Cycling (mountain biking) pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] Mountain biking
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''1''' 
|
|-

| style="text-align:left;"colspan=2| [[File:Equestrian pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Equestrian at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Equestrian]]
|
|
|
| 
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| 
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
|
|
| '''6'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Fencing pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Fencing at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Fencing]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| '''10'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Field hockey pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Field hockey at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Field hockey]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
|
| '''2'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Football pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Football]]
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
!
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
|'''2''' 
|-

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3" | [[Gymnastics at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Gymnastics]]
| style="text-align:left;" | [[File:Gymnastics (artistic) pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] Artistic
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''5'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''5'''
| 
|
|
|
|
|
| rowspan="3" | '''18'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" | [[File:Gymnastics (rhythmic) pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] Rhythmic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" | [[File:Gymnastics (trampoline) pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] Trampoline
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
|
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Handball pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Handball at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Handball]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| 
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ● 
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| '''2'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Judo pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Judo]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| '''14'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Modern pentathlon pictogram (pre-2025).svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Modern pentathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Modern pentathlon]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
|
| '''2'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Rowing pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Rowing at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Rowing]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| 
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''7'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" |'''7'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| '''14'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Sailing pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Sailing]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''3'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| 
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| 
|'''11'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Shooting pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Shooting at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Shooting]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| '''17'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Table tennis pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Table tennis at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Table tennis]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" |●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| 
|
|
|
|
|
| '''4'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Taekwondo pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Taekwondo at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Taekwondo]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| '''8'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Tennis pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Tennis at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Tennis]]
|
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| '''4'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Triathlon pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Triathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Triathlon]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
|
|
| '''2'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2" | [[Volleyball at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Volleyball]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Volleyball (beach) pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] Beach volleyball
|
|
|
| 
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
|
|
|
| rowspan="2" |'''4'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" |{{nowrap|[[File:Volleyball (indoor) pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] Indoor volleyball}}
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2|[[File:Weightlifting pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Weightlifting at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Weightlifting]]
|
|
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
|
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''2'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| 
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''1'''
|
|
|
|
| '''15'''
|-

| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| [[File:Wrestling pictogram.svg|20px|class=skin-invert]] [[Wrestling at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Wrestling]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 
| 
| 
|
| 
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''4'''
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''4'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''3'''
| style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ●
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''4'''
| style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | '''3'''
| '''14'''
|-
! colspan=2|Daily medal events !! !! !! !! 13 !! 12 !! 14 !! 11 !! 21 !! 15 !! 22 !! 30 !! 27 !! 19 !! 12 !! 18 !! 15 !! 21 !! 34 !! 17 !! rowspan="2" | 301
|-
! colspan=2|Cumulative total !! !! !! !! 13 !! 25 !! 39 !! 50 !! 71 !! 86 !! 108 !! 138 !! 165 !! 184 !! 196 !! 214 !! 229 !! 250 !! 284 !! 301

|-
! colspan=2|August 2004 !!11th<br>Wed!!12th<br>Thu!!13th<br />Fri!!14th<br />Sat!!15th<br />Sun!!16th<br />Mon!!17th<br />Tue!!18th<br />Wed!!19th<br />Thu!!20th<br />Fri!!21st<br />Sat!!22nd<br />Sun!!23rd<br />Mon!!24th<br />Tue!!25th<br />Wed!!26th<br />Thu!!27th<br />Fri!!28th<br />Sat!!29th<br />Sun!!Events
|}
</div><section end="Calendar"/>

===Highlights===
* In the men's football group stage game where Serbia and Montenegro faced Tunisia, a penalty taken by Tunisia had to be retaken five times.
* Greek sprinters [[Konstantinos Kenteris]] and [[Ekaterini Thanou]] withdraw from the games after allegedly staging a motorcycle accident in order to avoid a drug test.
* The [[United Arab Emirates]] received its first Olympic medal when [[Ahmed Al-Maktoum (sport shooter)|Sheikh Ahmed Al-Maktoum]], a distant relative of the [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum|Emir of Dubai]], won gold in shooting in the [[Double trap|double trap event]]. He also finished fourth in the trap event.<ref>{{cite web | title=Shaikh Ahmed Almaktoum | website=Olympics.com | date=5 June 2018 | url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/shaikh-ahmed-almaktoum | access-date=11 February 2024}}</ref>
* The shot put event was held in ancient [[Olympia, Greece|Olympia]], site of the [[ancient Olympic Games]] (this was the very first time women athletes competed in Ancient Olympia), while the archery competition and the men's and women's marathon finish were held in the [[Panathenaic Stadium]], in which the 1896 Games were held.<ref name="olympic" />
* [[Kiribati]] and [[Timor Leste]] participated in the Olympic Games for the first time.<ref name="olympic"/>
* Women's wrestling and women's sabre made their Olympic debut at the 2004 Games.<ref name="olympic"/>
* With 6 gold, 6 silver, and 4 bronze medals, Greece had its best medal tally in over 100 years (since hosting the 1896 Olympics), continuing the nation's sporting success after winning [[UEFA Euro 2004|Euro 2004]] in July.
* The marathon was held on the same route as the 1896 Games, beginning in the site of the [[Battle of Marathon]] to the [[Panathenaic Stadium]] in Athens.<ref name="olympic">{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/athens-2004-summer-olympics |title=Athens 2004 |publisher=IOC |access-date=28 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130117121331/http://www.olympic.org/athens-2004-summer-olympics |archive-date=17 January 2013 }}</ref>
* Australia became the first country in Olympic history to win more gold medals (17) immediately after hosting the Olympics in Sydney 2000 where they won 16 gold medals.
* World record holder and strong favourite [[Paula Radcliffe]] of Britain, crashed out of the women's [[marathon]] in spectacular fashion, leaving Japan's [[Mizuki Noguchi]] to win the gold.
* While leading in the men's marathon with less than 10&nbsp;kilometres to go, Brazilian runner [[Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima]] was attacked by Irish priest [[Neil Horan]] and dragged into the crowd. De Lima recovered to take bronze, and was later awarded the [[Pierre de Coubertin Medal]] for sportsmanship.<ref name="olympic"/> Twelve years later, at the opening ceremony of the [[2016 Summer Olympics]], he lit the [[Olympic flame|Olympic Cauldron]] at [[Maracanã Stadium]].
* British athlete [[Kelly Holmes]] won gold in the [[800 m]] and [[1500 m]].<ref name="olympic"/>
* [[Liu Xiang (hurdler)|Liu Xiang]] won the first gold medal in men's track and field for [[China]] in the [[110 m hurdles]], equalling [[Colin Jackson]]'s 1993 [[World Record]] time of 12.91&nbsp;seconds.
* Kenyan runners swept the medals in the 3000 meters steeple chase.<ref name="olympic"/>
* The Olympics saw [[Afghanistan at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Afghanistan's]] first return to the Games since 1996 (it was banned due to the [[Taliban]]'s extremist attitudes towards women, but was reinstated in 2002).
* [[Hicham El Guerrouj]] wins gold in the [[1500 m]] and [[5000 m]]. He was the first person to accomplish this feat at the Olympics since [[Paavo Nurmi]] in 1924.<ref name="olympic"/>
* Greek athlete [[Fani Halkia]] came out of retirement to win the [[400 m hurdles]].
* The US women's {{nowrap|4 × 200 m}} swimming team of [[Natalie Coughlin]], [[Carly Piper]], [[Dana Vollmer]] and [[Kaitlin Sandeno]] won gold, smashing the long-standing world record set by the [[German Democratic Republic]] in 1987.
* [[Argentina national basketball team|Argentina]] beat [[Italy national basketball team|Italy]] 84–69 in the men's basketball final for their first gold medal in the sport.
* Windsurfer [[Gal Fridman]] won [[Israel]]'s first-ever gold medal.
* Dominican athlete [[Félix Sánchez (hurdler)|Félix Sánchez]] won the first gold medal for the [[Dominican Republic]] in the [[400 m hurdles]] event.
* German [[kayaker]] [[Birgit Fischer]] won gold in the K-4 500&nbsp;m and silver in the K-2 500&nbsp;m. In so doing, she became the first woman in any sport to win gold medals at 6 different Olympics, the first woman to win gold 24 years apart and the first person in Olympic history to win two or more medals in five different Games.
* Swimmer [[Michael Phelps]] became the first athlete to win 8 medals (6 gold and 2 bronze) in non-boycotted Olympics.<ref name="olympic"/>
* United States' gymnast [[Carly Patterson]] became the second American woman to win the all-around gold medal, and the first American woman to win the all-around competition at a non-boycotted Olympic Games.
* Chilean Tennis players [[Nicolás Massu]] and [[Fernando Gonzalez]] won the gold medal in the Doubles Competition, while Massu won the gold and Gonzalez the bronze on the Singles competition. These were Chile's first-ever gold medals. With these victories, Massú became the thirteenth Tennis player (and the eighth male player) in history to have won the gold medal in both the Singles and Doubles Competition during the same Olympic Games. He also became the second Tennis player, and first male player, to have achieved this feat in modern Olympic Tennis (1988 onwards). The first player to do so was [[Venus Williams]] in [[Tennis at the 2000 Summer Olympics|2000]].<ref name="olympic"/>
* [[Usain Bolt]] of [[Jamaica]], in his first career Olympic Games, finished fifth in his 200m dash heat in 21.05 seconds, failing to qualify for the second round. In the years to come, he would go on to become the world's fastest man, with multiple world records in the 100m, 200m and {{nowrap|4 × 100 m}} and a medal count of over 29 global medals, including 8 Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championships gold medals.

===Closing ceremony===
[[File:Athens 2004 Olympics Closing ceremony.jpg|thumb|Balloons falling at the Athens 2004 Olympics closing ceremony]]
{{Main|2004 Summer Olympics closing ceremony}}
The Games were concluded on 29 August 2004. The closing ceremony was held at the [[Olympic Stadium (Athens)|Athens Olympic Stadium]], where the Games had been opened 16 days earlier. Around 70,000 people gathered in the stadium to watch the ceremony.

The initial part of the ceremony interspersed the performances of various Greek singers, and featured traditional Greek dance performances from various regions of Greece (Crete, Thessaly, etc.). The event was meant to highlight the pride of the Greeks in their culture and country for the world to see.

A significant part of the closing ceremony was the exchange of the Olympic flag of the Athens Games between the mayor of Athens and the mayor of Beijing, host city of the next Olympics. After the flag exchange a presentation from the Beijing delegation presented a glimpse into Chinese culture for the world to see. [[Beijing University]] students (who were at first incorrectly cited as the [[Twelve Girls Band]]) sang [[Mo Li Hua]] (Jasmine Flower) accompanied by a ribbon dancer, then some male dancers did a routine with tai chi and acrobatics, followed by dancers from the Peking Opera and finally, a little Chinese girl [[Chen Tianjia]] singing a reprise of [[Mo Li Hua]] and concluded the presentation by saying "Welcome to Beijing!"

The medal ceremony for the last event of the Olympics, the [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon|men's marathon]], was conducted, with [[Stefano Baldini]] from Italy as the winner. The bronze medal winner, [[Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima]] of Brazil, was simultaneously announced as a recipient of the [[Pierre de Coubertin Medal]] for his bravery in finishing the race despite being attacked by a rogue spectator while leading with 7&nbsp;km to go.

A flag-bearer from each nation's delegation then entered along the stage, followed by the competitors ''en masse'' on the floor. All of them were led by [[Pyrros Dimas]] (weightlifter) and Liu Xiang (hurdler).

Short speeches were presented by [[Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki]], President of the Organising Committee, and by President Dr. [[Jacques Rogge]] of the [[International Olympic Committee|IOC]], in which he described the Athens Olympics as "unforgettable, dream Games".<ref name="ESPN"/>

Dr. Rogge had previously declared he would be breaking with tradition in his closing speech as President of the IOC and that he would never use the words of his predecessor [[Juan Antonio Samaranch]], who used to always say 'these were the best ever games'.<ref name="ESPN"/> Dr. Rogge had described [[2002 Winter Olympics|Salt Lake City 2002]] as "superb games" and in turn would continue after Athens 2004 and describe [[2006 Winter Olympics|Turin 2006]] as "truly magnificent games."

The national anthems [[Hymn to Liberty|of Greece]] and [[March of the Volunteers|China]] were played in a handover ceremony as both nations' flags were raised. The [[Mayor of Athens]], [[Dora Bakoyianni]], passed the Olympic Flag to the [[Mayor of Beijing]], [[Wang Qishan]]. After a short cultural performance by Chinese actors, dancers, and musicians directed by eminent Chinese director [[Zhang Yimou]], Rogge declared the 2004 Olympic Games closed. The Olympic flag was next raised again on 10 February 2006 during the [[2006 Winter Olympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony of the next Winter Olympics]] in [[Turin|Torino]].

A young Greek girl, 10-year-old [[Fotini Papaleonidopoulou]], lit a symbolic lantern with the [[Olympic Flame]] and passed it on to other children before "extinguishing" the flame in the cauldron by blowing a puff of air. The ceremony ended with a variety of musical performances by Greek singers, including [[Dionysis Savvopoulos]], [[George Dalaras]], [[Haris Alexiou]], [[Anna Vissi]], [[Sakis Rouvas]], [[Eleftheria Arvanitaki]], Alkistis Protopsalti, [[Antonis Remos]], [[Michalis Hatzigiannis]], [[Marinella]], and Dimitra Galani, as thousands of athletes carried out symbolic displays on the stadium floor.

==Medal table==
{{Main|2004 Summer Olympics medal table}}
[[File:2004 Olympics medal ceremony for the Men's 50m Three-Position Rifle Competition.jpg|thumb|Army Maj. Zhanbo Jia from China (center) took the gold medal in the Men's 50m Three-Position Rifle, Michael Anti from the United States (left) took the Silver and Christian Planer (right) from Austria took the Bronze]]

These are the top ten nations that won medals in the 2004 Games.
;Key
{{Color box|#ffffff|{{double dagger}}|border=darkgray}} Changes in medal standings ([[2004 Summer Olympics medal table#Changes in medal standings|see here]])
<!--
No line breaks please
-->{{:2004 Summer Olympics medal table}}

==Venues==
{{Main|Venues of the 2004 Summer Olympics}}

===OAKA===
[[File:TennisAt2004SummerOlympics-1.jpg|thumb|[[Athens Olympic Tennis Centre]]]]

* [[Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre]] – diving, swimming, synchronized swimming, water polo
* [[Athens Olympic Tennis Centre]] – tennis
* [[Athens Olympic Velodrome]] – cycling (track)
* [[Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall|Olympic Indoor Hall]] – basketball (final), gymnastics (artistic, trampolining)
* [[Olympic Stadium (Athens)|Olympic Stadium]] – ceremonies (opening/ closing), athletics, football (final)

===HOC===
* [[Helliniko Fencing Hall|Fencing Hall]] – fencing
* [[Helliniko Olympic Arena|Helliniko Indoor Arena]] – basketball, handball (final)
* [[Elliniko Stadium|Olympic Baseball Centre]] – baseball
* [[Helliniko Olympic Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre|Olympic Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre]] – canoeing (slalom)
* [[Helliniko Olympic Hockey Centre|Olympic Hockey Centre]] – field hockey
* [[Helliniko Olympic Softball Stadium|Olympic Softball Stadium]] – softball

===Faliro===
[[File:Beach Voley event 2004.JPG|thumb|[[Faliro Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre]] hosting beach volleyball]]
* [[Faliro Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre]] – volleyball (beach)
* [[Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena]] – handball, taekwondo
* [[Peace and Friendship Stadium]] – volleyball (indoor)

===GOC===
* [[Goudi Olympic Hall]] – badminton
* [[Olympic Modern Pentathlon Centre]] – modern pentathlon

===MOC===
* [[Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre]] – equestrian
* [[Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre]] – shooting

===Football venues===
* [[Kaftanzoglio Stadium]] ([[Thessaloniki]])
* [[Karaiskakis Stadium]] ([[Piraeus]])
* [[Pampeloponnisiako Stadium]] ([[Patras]])
* [[Pankritio Stadium]] ([[Heraklion]])
* [[Panthessaliko Stadium]] ([[Volos]])

===Other venues===
[[File:TableTennisAt2004SummerOlympics-1.jpg|thumb|[[Galatsi Olympic Hall]] hosted gymnastics (rhythmic) and table tennis]]
* [[Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre]] – sailing
* [[Ano Liosia Olympic Hall]] – judo, wrestling
* [[Galatsi Olympic Hall]] – gymnastics (rhythmic), table tennis
* [[Kotzia Square]] – cycling (individual road race)
* [[Marathon, Greece|Marathon (city)]] – athletics (marathon start)
* [[Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Hall]] – weightlifting
* [[Panathenaic Stadium]] – archery, athletics (marathons finish)
* [[Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall]] – boxing
* [[Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre]] – canoeing (sprint), rowing
* [[Stadium at Olympia]] – athletics (shot put)
* [[Vouliagmeni Olympic Centre]] – cycling (individual time trial), triathlon

==Marketing==

===Mascots===
{{Main|Athena and Phevos}}

[[Olympic mascot|Mascots]] have been a tradition at the Olympic Games since the [[1968 Winter Olympics]] in [[Grenoble]], France. The 2004 Olympics had two official mascots: ''[[Athena and Phevos|Athena]]'' and ''[[Athena and Phevos|Phevos]]'' (Greek pronunciation: Athina and Fivos). The sister and brother were named after [[Athena]], the goddess of wisdom, strategy and [[Apollo|Phoebus]], the god of light and music, respectively. They were inspired by the ancient [[daidala]], which were toy dolls that also had religious connotations.

===Sponsors===
{| class="wikitable collapsible " style="float:center; margin:10px;"
|-
! Sponsors of the 2004 Summer Olympics
|-
| Worldwide Olympic Partners<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.athens2004.com/en/OlympicPartners|title=Olympic Partners|publisher=athens2004.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040901105310/http://www.athens2004.com/en/OlympicPartners|archive-date=1 September 2004}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-5}}
* [[Atos|Atos Origin]]
* [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]]
* [[John Hancock Financial]]
{{col-5}}
* [[Kodak]]
* [[McDonald's]]
* [[Panasonic]]
* [[Samsung Electronics]]
{{col-5}}
* [[Sports Illustrated]]
* [[Swatch]]
* [[Visa Inc.]]
* [[Xerox]]
{{col-end}}
|-
| Grand Sponsors<ref>{{cite web|title=Grand Sponsors|url=http://www.athens2004.com/athens2004/page/legacy?lang=en&cid=8e58470429149f00VgnVCMServer28130b0aRCRD|publisher=athens2004.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060211204024/http://www.athens2004.com/athens2004/page/legacy?lang=en&cid=8e58470429149f00VgnVCMServer28130b0aRCRD|archive-date=11 February 2006}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-5}}
* [[Alpha Bank]]
* [[Vivartia|Delta]]-[[Fage]]
* [[Heineken N.V.]]
* [[Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation]]
* [[Hellenic Post]]
{{col-5}}
* [[Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation]]
* [[Hyundai Motor Company]]
* [[Olympic Airlines]]
* [[Public Power Corporation]]
{{col-end}}
|-
| Official Supporters<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Supporters|url=http://www.athens2004.com/athens2004/page/legacy?lang=en&cid=1e58470429149f00VgnVCMServer28130b0aRCRD|publisher=athens2004.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060211204036/http://www.athens2004.com/athens2004/page/legacy?lang=en&cid=1e58470429149f00VgnVCMServer28130b0aRCRD|archive-date=11 February 2006}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-5}}
* [[ABB]]-[[Areva]]-Diekat-[[Siemens]]
* [[Adidas]]
{{col-5}}
* Cleaning and Waste Services
* [[General Electric]]
{{col-5}}
* [[Jet Set Sports]]
* [[Shell plc]]
* [[Ticketmaster]]
{{col-end}}
|-
| Official Providers<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Providers|url=http://www.athens2004.com/athens2004/page/legacy?lang=en&cid=fe58470429149f00VgnVCMServer28130b0aRCRD|publisher=athens2004.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060211204029/http://www.athens2004.com/athens2004/page/legacy?lang=en&cid=fe58470429149f00VgnVCMServer28130b0aRCRD|archive-date=11 February 2006}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-5}}
* Altec-Info-Quest-[[Intracom Holdings]]-PC Systems
* [[DB Schenker]]
{{col-5}}
* [[Mizuno Corporation]]
* [[Mondo (Italian company)|Mondo]]
* [[Technogym]]
{{col-end}}
|}

==Legacy==
To commemorate the 2004 Olympics, a series of [[Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Greece)#2003 coinage|Greek high value euro collectors' coins]] were minted by the Mint of Greece, in both silver and gold. The pieces depict landmarks in Greece as well as ancient and modern sports on the obverse of the coin. On the reverse, a common motif with the logo of the Games, circled by an olive branch representing the spirit of the Games.

Preparations to stage the Olympics led to a number of positive developments for the city's infrastructure. These improvements included the establishment of [[Athens International Airport|Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport]], a modern new international airport serving as Greece's main aviation gateway;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aia.gr/pages.asp?pageid=5&langid=2 |title=The Company |publisher=Aia.gr |date=28 March 2001 |access-date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218151043/http://www.aia.gr/pages.asp?pageid=5&langid=2 |archive-date=18 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> expansions to the [[Athens Metro]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ametro.gr/page/default.asp?la=1&id=376 |title=AttikoMetro Inside |publisher=Ametro.gr |date=9 September 2009 |access-date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211142041/http://www.ametro.gr/page/default.asp?la=1&id=376 |archive-date=11 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> system; the "[[Athens Tram|Tram]]", a new metropolitan tram (light rail) system<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tramsa.gr/ |title=Tram Sa |publisher=Tramsa.gr |date=22 February 2010 |access-date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323163748/http://www.tramsa.gr/ |archive-date=23 March 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> system; the "[[Proastiakos]]", a new suburban railway system linking the airport and suburban towns to the city of Athens; the "[[Attiki Odos]]", a new toll motorway encircling the city,<ref>[http://www.aodos.gr/article.asp?catid=12069&tag=7275]  {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and the conversion of streets into pedestrianized walkways in the historic center of Athens which link several of the city's main tourist sites, including the [[Parthenon]] and the [[Panathenaic Stadium]] (the site of the [[1896 Summer Olympics|first modern Olympic Games in 1896]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.minenv.gr/4/44/4401/440102/44010202/e4401020202.html |title=Unification of Archaeological Sites in the Centre of Athens |publisher=Minenv.gr |date=4 November 1995 |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716070326/http://www.minenv.gr/4/44/4401/440102/44010202/e4401020202.html |archive-date=16 July 2011 }}</ref><ref name=csm>{{cite web|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0721/p04s01-wogn.html |title=As Olympic Glow Fades, Athens Questions $15 Billion Cost |publisher=Csmonitor.com |date=21 July 2008 |access-date=15 March 2010}}</ref> All of the above infrastructure is still in use to this day, and there have been continued expansions and proposals to expand Athens' metro, tram, suburban rail and motorway network, the airport, as well as further plans to pedestrianize more thoroughfares in the historic center of Athens.

The Greek Government has created a corporation, Olympic Properties SA, which is overseeing the post-Olympics management, development and conversion of these facilities, some of which will be sold off (or have already been sold off) to the private sector,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_en.asp?id=2 |title=Hellenic Olympic Properties: The Company |publisher=Olympicproperties.gr |access-date=15 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212232941/http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_en.asp?id=2 |archive-date = 12 December 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/features/after-the-party-what-happens-when-the-olympics-leave-town-901629.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/features/after-the-party-what-happens-when-the-olympics-leave-town-901629.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=After The Party: What happens when the Olympics leave town |work=The Independent |location=London |access-date=15 March 2010 | date=19 August 2008}}{{cbignore}}</ref> while some other facilities are still in use, or have been converted for commercial use or modified for other sports.<ref>{{cite web|author=((AFP)) |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jAognIFQaNRhGk_sG9fHJQHVXuHw |title=Four years after Athens Greeks have Olympics blues |date=30 July 2008 |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806214535/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jAognIFQaNRhGk_sG9fHJQHVXuHw |archive-date=6 August 2008 }}</ref>

As of 2012 many conversion schemes have stalled owing to the [[Greek government-debt crisis]], though many of these facilities are now under the control of domestic sporting clubs and organizations or the private sector.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

Ongoing maintenance costs for the facilities were problematic due to the [[Greek government-debt crisis]], leading to facilities falling into disrepair, and, according to reports during the crisis period, many Greek Olympians at the time chose to train in Cyprus instead, owing to its then superior facilities.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/may/09/athens-2004-olympics-athletes-home | title=Athens 2004 Olympics: What happened after the athletes went home? | newspaper=The Guardian | date=9 May 2012 | last1=Smith | first1=Helena }}</ref> The [[Hellinikon Olympic Complex]] saw multiple venues demolished and the park is being transformed into [[Hellinikon Metropolitan Park]] which will become home to [[Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens]], the first [[integrated resort]] in Greece.<ref>[https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hard-Rock-first-hotel-casino-Europe Hard Rock's first hotel casino in Europe is under construction in Athens]</ref><ref>[https://hotel.hardrock.com/news/hard-rock-international-breaks-ground-on-hard-rock-hotel-and-casino-athens/ Hard Rock International Breaks Ground on Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens]</ref>

The legacy of the facilities is also debated: although many facilities had plans for post-games utilisation, many of these plans never materialised, while questions remain about whether the initially limited post-games usage of certain facilities is outweighed by the significant initial expenditure on the facilities, alongside the ongoing maintenance costs<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/may/09/athens-2004-olympics-athletes-home | title=Athens 2004 Olympics: What happened after the athletes went home? | newspaper=The Guardian | date=9 May 2012 | last1=Smith | first1=Helena }}</ref> (such arguments were mostly presented during the country's debt crisis, which had affected many aspects of its functions<ref name="Cost mythology">{{Cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-nevradakis/mythology-an-olympic-spor_b_1745857.html|title=The True Olympic Legacy of Athens: Refuting the Mythology|last=Nevradakis|first=Michael|date=7 August 2012|website=The Huffington Post|access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref>).

The table below delineates the current status of the Athens Olympic facilities:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Facility
! Olympics use
! Current/Proposed use
|-
| [[Athens Olympic Stadium]] (OAKA)
| Opening & Closing Ceremonies, Track & Field, Football
| Home pitch for [[Panathinaikos FC]],<ref>[http://www.pao.gr/category.php?category_id=39] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416135054/http://www.pao.gr/category.php?category_id=39|date=16 April 2009}}</ref> [[AEK FC]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aekfctickets.gr/stadium.asp |title=AEK F.C. Official Web Site |publisher=Aekfctickets.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212072828/http://www.aekfctickets.gr/stadium.asp |archive-date=12 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (football; [[Greek Super League]], [[UEFA Champions League]]), [[Greece national football team]] (some matches), International football competitions;<ref>{{cite news|last=McNulty |first=Phil |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6669039.stm |title=BBC SPORT &#124; Football &#124; Europe &#124; AC Milan 2–1 Liverpool |work=BBC News |date=23 May 2007 |access-date=15 March 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302181325/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/6669039.stm| archive-date= 2 March 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref> Track & Field events (e.g. IAAF Athens Grand Prix<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsiklitiria.org/ |title=Athens Grand Prix 2009 |publisher=Tsiklitiria.org |date=13 July 2009 |access-date=15 March 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730180832/http://www.tsiklitiria.org/| archive-date = 30 July 2008}}</ref>), Concerts<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tickets.madonna.com/index.php?location=eu |title = Madonna.com > Home  |access-date=28 September 2008 |archive-date=19 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919071659/https://tickets.madonna.com/index.php?location=eu |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jenniferlopez.com/forum/athens-greece-concert-sat-september-20-2008 |title=Athens, Greece Concert, Sat. September 20, 2008 |publisher=Jenniferlopez.com |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514064908/http://www.jenniferlopez.com/forum/athens-greece-concert-sat-september-20-2008 |archive-date=14 May 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oaka.com.gr/articles_list.asp?e_lang_id=0&e_cat_serial=001011001005&e_cat_id=331 |title=Ολυμπιακό Αθλητικό Κέντρο Αθηνών |publisher=Oaka.com.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427222008/http://www.oaka.com.gr/articles_list.asp?e_lang_id=0&e_cat_serial=001011001005&e_cat_id=331 |archive-date=27 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall|Athens Olympic Indoor Hall]]
| Basketball, Gymnastics
| Home court for [[Panathinaikos BC]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paobc.gr/category_subcategories.php?category_id=83 |title=Panathinaikos Bc::::Εδρα:::: |publisher=Paobc.gr |access-date=15 March 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310233405/http://www.paobc.gr/category_subcategories.php?category_id=83| archive-date= 10 March 2010 | url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[AEK BC]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aekbc.gr |title=AEK B.C. &#124; Official Web Site |work=Aekbc.gr |access-date=8 September 2015}}</ref> ([[A1 Ethniki|Greek basketball league]]); [[Greece men's national basketball team]], International basketball competitions,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.athens2008.fiba.com/ |title=www.athens2008.fiba.com – Home page |access-date=24 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527191723/http://www.athens2008.fiba.com/ |archive-date=27 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Concerts<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_civ_2_11/06/2008_97564 |title=Pop icon set for show in Athens this September |publisher=ekathimerini.com |date=11 June 2008 |access-date=15 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/index/main?page=66&event=334 |title=Eurovision Song Contest 2006 Final &#124; Year page &#124; Eurovision Song Contest – Oslo 2010 |publisher=Eurovision.tv |date=20 May 2006 |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202030625/http://www.eurovision.tv/index/main?page=66&event=334 |archive-date=2 December 2008 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre]]
| Swimming, Diving, Synchronized Swimming, Water Polo
| Domestic and international swimming meets,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oaka.com.gr/articles_list.asp?e_lang_id=0&e_cat_serial=001011001001005003&e_cat_id=342 |title=Ολυμπιακό Αθλητικό Κέντρο Αθηνών |publisher=Oaka.com.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501134126/http://www.oaka.com.gr/articles_list.asp?e_lang_id=0&e_cat_serial=001011001001005003&e_cat_id=342 |archive-date=1 May 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oaka.com.gr/articles_list.asp?e_lang_id=0&e_cat_serial=001011001001005010&e_cat_id=341 |title=Ολυμπιακό Αθλητικό Κέντρο Αθηνών |publisher=Oaka.com.gr |date=22 March 2008 |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501203212/http://www.oaka.com.gr/articles_list.asp?e_lang_id=0&e_cat_serial=001011001001005010&e_cat_id=341 |archive-date=1 May 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oaka.com.gr/articles_list.asp?e_lang_id=0&e_cat_serial=001011001001005&e_cat_id=321 |title=Ολυμπιακό Αθλητικό Κέντρο Αθηνών |publisher=Oaka.com.gr |date=16 July 2006 |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501162058/http://www.oaka.com.gr/articles_list.asp?e_lang_id=0&e_cat_serial=001011001001005&e_cat_id=321 |archive-date=1 May 2009 }}</ref> Public pool,<ref name=etipos>{{Cite web |url=http://www.e-tipos.com/newsitem?id=47588 |title=E-Tipos – Remedios naturales – Official Blog |access-date=28 September 2008 |archive-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207174230/http://www.e-tipos.com/newsitem?id=47588 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> domestic league and European water-polo games.
|-
| [[Athens Olympic Tennis Centre]]
| Tennis
| Domestic and international tennis matches, training courts open to the public and home of the Athens Tennis Academy, currently the best-kept facility in the complex<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oaka.com.gr/articles_list.asp?e_lang_id=0&e_cat_serial=001011001001009&e_cat_id=325 |title=Ολυμπιακό Αθλητικό Κέντρο Αθηνών |publisher=Oaka.com.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501182845/http://www.oaka.com.gr/articles_list.asp?e_lang_id=0&e_cat_serial=001011001001009&e_cat_id=325 |archive-date=1 May 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.athenstennisacademy.gr |title=Athens Tennis Academy |publisher=Athenstennisacademy.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210105417/http://athenstennisacademy.gr/ |archive-date=10 February 2009 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Athens Olympic Velodrome]]
| Cycling
| Domestic and international cycling meets<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oaka.com.gr/articles_list.asp?e_lang_id=0&e_cat_serial=001011001001008&e_cat_id=324 |title=Ολυμπιακό Αθλητικό Κέντρο Αθηνών |publisher=Oaka.com.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501203024/http://www.oaka.com.gr/articles_list.asp?e_lang_id=0&e_cat_serial=001011001001008&e_cat_id=324 |archive-date=1 May 2009 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Peace and Friendship Stadium]]
| Volleyball
| Home court for [[Olympiacos BC]] (basketball),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.olympiacos.org/ |title = Olympiacos.org / Official Website of Olympiacos Piraeus  |access-date=28 September 2008 |archive-date=10 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810065503/http://www.olympiacos.org/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> Concerts, Conventions and trade shows<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sef-stadium.gr/index.files/Page1937.htm |title=Αρχειο Εκδηλωσεων |publisher=Sef-stadium.gr |access-date=15 March 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408173317/http://www.sef-stadium.gr/index.files/Page1937.htm| archive-date = 8 April 2008}}</ref>
|-
| [[Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena]]
| Basketball, Handball
| Home court for [[Panionios BC]] (basketball),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.panioniosbc.gr/index.asp?a_id=90 |title=Πανιωνιοσ – Κ.Α.Ε |publisher=Panioniosbc.gr |date=20 October 2009 |access-date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210134856/http://www.panioniosbc.gr/index.asp?a_id=90 |archive-date=10 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Conventions and trade shows<ref name=etipos/>
|-
| [[Hellinikon Olympic Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre|Hellinikon Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre]]
| Canoe/Kayak
| Turned over to a private consortium (J&P AVAX, GEP, Corfu Waterparks and BIOTER). Plans to convert it to a water park never materialised,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100006_03/08/2007_86425 |title=High hopes for park at Hellenikon |publisher=ekathimerini.com |date=3 August 2007 |access-date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030035226/http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100006_03/08/2007_86425 |archive-date=30 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>etipos/</ref> and as of 2014 it sits abandoned.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/28693970 | title=Olympics: Athens venues lie empty as tenth anniversary nears | work=BBC Sport | date=7 August 2014 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Hellinikon Olympic Hockey Centre]]
| Field Hockey
| Originally planned to be part of new Hellinikon metropolitan park complex, but these plans never materialised.<ref name=olyprop1>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_gr.asp?id=250 |title=Ολυμπιακά Ακίνητα: Μεταολυμπιακή Αξιοποίηση |publisher=Olympicproperties.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801104746/http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_gr.asp?id=250 |archive-date=1 August 2013 }}</ref> As of 2017, abandoned, and with damaged turf.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Olympic_Hockey_Centre.jpg | title=File:Olympic Hockey Centre.JPG }}</ref>{{Circular reference|date=February 2025}}<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2014/aug/13/abandoned-athens-olympic-2004-venues-10-years-on-in-pictures | title=Abandoned Athens Olympic 2004 venues, 10 years on – in pictures | newspaper=The Guardian | date=13 August 2014 | last1=Bloor | first1=Steven }}</ref>
|-
| [[Helliniko Olympic Complex#Olympic Baseball Centre|Hellinikon Baseball Stadium]]
| Baseball
| Currently abandoned. Main ground (no. 1) initially converted to football pitch, home field of [[Ethnikos Piraeus F.C.]] (Football; [[Beta Ethniki|Greek second division]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport.gr/default.asp?pid=96&scid=264&cid=2216 |title=Εθνικός |publisher=Sport.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609204953/http://www.sport.gr/default.asp?pid=96&cid=2216&scid=264 |archive-date=9 June 2009 }}</ref> auxiliary ground (no. 2) abandoned. In 2014, [[Ethnikos Piraeus F.C.]] moved grounds to the [[Peace And Friendship stadium]], leaving the main ground abandoned.
|-
| [[Hellinikon Olympic Softball Stadium|Hellinikon Softball Stadium]]
| Softball
| Abandoned
|-
| [[Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre]]
| Sailing
| Currently out of use, turned over to the private sector (Seirios AE), will become marina with 1,000+ yacht capacity<ref name=olyprop2>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_gr.asp?id=317 |title=Ολυμπιακά Ακίνητα: Η πορεία της μεταολυμπιακής αξιοποίησης των Ολυμπιακών Ακινήτων |publisher=Olympicproperties.gr |access-date=15 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508043636/http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_gr.asp?id=317 |archive-date = 8 May 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> and will be part of Athens' revitalized waterfront<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=a_vXH.jytNpU&refer=muse |title=Renzo Piano Chosen to Design New Greek Opera, Library Complex |publisher=Bloomberg |date=21 February 2008 |access-date=15 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ano Liosia Olympic Hall]]
| Judo, Wrestling
| TV filming facility,<ref name=etipos/> Future home of the Hellenic Academy of Culture and Hellenic Digital Archive<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_gr.asp?id=266 |title=Ολυμπιακά Ακίνητα: Μεταολυμπιακή Αξιοποίηση |publisher=Olympicproperties.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801103507/http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_gr.asp?id=266 |archive-date=1 August 2013 }}</ref><ref name=grioc>[http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=2229 Media]</ref>
|-
| [[Faliro Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre|Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre]]
| Beach Volleyball
| Concert and theater venue, it hosted Helena Paparizou's concert on 13 August 2005 to celebrate the first anniversary of the Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympicproperties.gr/events_gr.asp?venue=27&id=295 |title=Ολυμπιακά Ακίνητα: GFestival 2005 |publisher=Olympicproperties.gr |date=15 June 2005 |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801105347/http://www.olympicproperties.gr/events_gr.asp?venue=27&id=295 |archive-date=1 August 2013 }}</ref> Plans to turn it into an ultra-modern outdoor theatre never materialised, and as of 2024, the facility stands abandoned and vandalised.<ref name=etipos/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/olympics/explore-ruins-athens-olympics-2004-hope-in-weeds-3182810 | title=I went to explore the ruins of the Athens 2004 Olympics and found hope in the weeds | date=22 July 2024 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena|Faliro Sports Pavilion]]
| Handball, Taekwondo
| Converted to the Athens International Convention Center, hosts concerts, conventions and trade shows<ref name=etipos/><ref name=grioc/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_gr.asp?id=265 |title=Ολυμπιακά Ακίνητα: Μεταολυμπιακή Αξιοποίηση |publisher=Olympicproperties.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801112757/http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_gr.asp?id=265 |archive-date=1 August 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.i-stores.gr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=2&lang=gr |title=Isaac Hayes Στο Κλειστο Φαληρου |publisher=i-stores.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051222030029/http://www.geeky.net/images/webbadge.gif |archive-date=22 December 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://siteseein.gr/2006/11/morrissey.html |title=Κλειστό Γυμναστήριο Φαλήρου – Morrissey &#124; Siteseein.gr Blog |publisher=Siteseein.gr |date=27 November 2006 |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716122656/http://siteseein.gr/2006/11/morrissey.html |archive-date=16 July 2010 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Galatsi Olympic Hall]]
| Table Tennis, Rhythmic Gymnastics
| After 2004, was the home court of [[AEK BC]] (basketball) before the team moved to the Athens Olympic Indoor Hall. Turned over to the private sector (Acropol Haragionis AE and Sonae Sierra SGPS S.A), being converted to a shopping mall and retail/entertainment complex.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_gr.asp?id=253 |title=Ολυμπιακά Ακίνητα: Μεταολυμπιακή Αξιοποίηση |publisher=Olympicproperties.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801114735/http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_gr.asp?id=253 |archive-date=1 August 2013 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Goudi Olympic Complex]]
| Badminton, Modern Pentathlon
| Now the site of the ultra-modern [[Badminton Theater]], hosting major theatrical productions<ref>{{cite web |author=Metaforce – Fuel |url=http://www.badmintontheater.gr/ |title=Badminton Theater |publisher=Badmintontheater.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126053045/http://www.badmintontheater.gr/ |archive-date=26 January 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_gr.asp?id=11 |title=Ολυμπιακά Ακίνητα: Ολυμπιακό Κέντρο Γουδή |publisher=Olympicproperties.gr |access-date=15 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915110955/http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_gr.asp?id=11 |archive-date = 15 September 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| [[Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre]]
| Equestrian
| Horse racing,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hellasvegas.gr/horse.shtml |title=Horse Racing &#124; Hellas Vegas |publisher=Hellasvegas.gr |access-date=15 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530002808/http://www.hellasvegas.gr/horse.shtml |archive-date = 30 May 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Domestic and International Equestrian meets,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hunterjumpernews.com/?p=5148 |title=FEI European Jumping Championship for Children – Markopoulo (GRE), 10–13 July 2008 |publisher=Hunter Jumper News |date=30 June 2008 |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720123619/http://www.hunterjumpernews.com/?p=5148 |archive-date=20 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympicproperties.gr/events_gr.asp?venue=18&id=312 |title=Ολυμπιακά Ακίνητα: Ελληνική Ομοσπονδία Ιππασίας – Αγωνιστικό Πρόγραμμα 2008 |publisher=Olympicproperties.gr |date=24 May 2008 |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801105701/http://www.olympicproperties.gr/events_gr.asp?venue=18&id=312 |archive-date=1 August 2013 }}</ref> Auto racing (rallye)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.subdriven.com/news/publish/Motorsport_News/article_494.shtml |title=The Subaru Enthuisast Website |publisher=Subdriven |date=25 May 2007 |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117014537/http://www.subdriven.com/news/publish/Motorsport_News/article_494.shtml |archive-date=17 January 2010 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre]]
| Shooting
| Converted to the official shooting range and training center of the [[Hellenic Police]].<ref name=olyprop2/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_gr.asp?id=258 |title=Ολυμπιακά Ακίνητα: Μεταολυμπιακή Αξιοποίηση |publisher=Olympicproperties.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801103849/http://www.olympicproperties.gr/contents_gr.asp?id=258 |archive-date=1 August 2013 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Hall]]
| Weightlifting
| Has hosted fencing competitions in the years following the Olympics,<ref name=etipos/> but has recently been turned over to the [[University of Piraeus]] for use as an academic lecture and conference center.<ref name=grioc/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unipi.gr/anak-ekd.php?prkaID=1279 |title=Ανακοινώσεις, Εκδηλώσεις, Νέα |publisher=Unipi.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907033528/http://www.unipi.gr/anak-ekd.php?prkaID=1279 |archive-date=7 September 2009 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Parnitha Olympic Mountain Bike Venue]]
| Mountain Biking
| Part of the [[Parnitha]] National Park. In public use for biking and hiking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parnitha-np.gr/oreini_podilasia.htm |title=Ορεινη Ποδηλασια |publisher=Parnitha-np.gr |access-date=15 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.travelmuse.com/pois/GR/35/attractions/parnitha-olympic-mountain-bike-venue |title=Parnitha Olympic Mountain Bike Venue – Attraction in Athens, Greece – Ratings and Information |publisher=TravelMuse |access-date=15 March 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall]]
| Boxing
| Partially converted to a football pitch, also in use for gymnastics competitions.<ref name=etipos/>
|-
| [[Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre]]
| Rowing and Canoeing
| One of only three [[Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron|FISA]]-approved training centers in the world, the others being in [[Munich]] and [[Seville]].<ref name=olyprop2/> Hosts mainly domestic rowing and canoeing meetings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurorowing-2008.com/ |title=eurorowing-2008.com |publisher=eurorowing-2008.com |access-date=15 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=WebSide Associates SA |url=http://www.worldrowing.com/display/modules/events/dspEvent.php?eventid=35081 |title=Official Website |publisher=World Rowing |access-date=15 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317092121/http://www.worldrowing.com/display/modules/events/dspEvent.php?eventid=35081 |archive-date = 17 March 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Part of the Schinias National Park, completely reconstructed by the German company [[Hochtief]].<ref name=etipos/>
|-
| [[Vouliagmeni Olympic Centre]]
| Triathlon
| Temporary facility, not in existence presently.
|-
| [[Kaftanzoglio Stadium]]
| Football
| Home pitch for [[Iraklis FC]] (football; Greek Super League)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iraklis-fc.gr/swift.jsp?CMCCode=0202&extLang= |title=IRAKLIS FC Official Web site |publisher=Iraklis-fc.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623221849/http://www.iraklis-fc.gr/swift.jsp?CMCCode=0202&extLang= |archive-date=23 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and temporary home pitch for [[Apollon Kalamarias|Apollon Kalamarias FC]] (football; Greek second division).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.apollonkalamariasfc.gr/pae/agonistiki_historia/historia-2007.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805095051/http://www.apollonkalamariasfc.gr/pae/agonistiki_historia/historia-2007.htm|url-status=dead|title=apollonkalamariasfc.gr|archivedate=5 August 2008|website=www.apollonkalamariasfc.gr}}</ref> Also in use for track and field meets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kaftanzoglio.gr/activities2.html |title=Καυτανζόγλειο Στάδιο – Θεσσαλονίκη |publisher=Kaftanzoglio.gr |date=27 August 2004 |access-date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306002811/http://www.kaftanzoglio.gr/activities2.html |archive-date=6 March 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hosted the 2007 Greek football All-Star Game.
|-
| [[Karaiskaki Stadium]]
| Football
| Home pitch for [[Olympiacos FC]] (football; Greek Super League)<ref>{{cite web|author=George Xenides |url=http://www.stadia.gr/karaiskaki/karaiskaki.html |title=Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium |publisher=Stadia.gr |access-date=1 February 2012}}</ref> and for the Greece National Football team. Also used as a concert venue.
|-
| [[Pampeloponnisiako Stadium]]
| Football
| Home pitch for [[Panahaiki|Panahaiki FC]] (football; [[Gamma Ethniki|Greek third division]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sportsecrets.gr/site-map/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618005749/http://www.panachaiki.gr/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=169&Itemid=66|url-status=dead|title=Site Map|archive-date=18 June 2009}}</ref> Also used for various track-and-field events, concerts, conventions, and friendly matches of the Greece National Football Team.<ref name=etipos/>
|-
| [[Pankritio Stadium]]
| Football
| Home pitch for [[OFI FC]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ofi.gr/ofi2008-09/EISITIRIA%20DIARKEIAS%202008-09.pdf |title=Eisitiria Diarkeias 2008-09.indd |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090824083000/http://www.ofi.gr/ofi2008-09/EISITIRIA%20DIARKEIAS%202008-09.pdf |archive-date=24 August 2009 }}</ref><ref name=pankritio>{{cite web|author=George Xenides |url=http://www.stadia.gr/pankritio/pankritio-gr.html |title=Παγκρήτιο Στάδιο |publisher=Stadia.gr |date=20 February 2005 |access-date=15 March 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404062113/http://www.stadia.gr/pankritio/pankritio-gr.html| archive-date= 4 April 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Ergotelis|Ergotelis FC]] (football; Greek Super League).<ref name=pankritio/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ergotelis.gr/index.php?sub_id=21&action=2&menu_id=1 |title=Παε Διεθνησ Ενωσισ Εργοτελησ |publisher=Ergotelis.gr |access-date=15 March 2010}}</ref> Hosted the 2005 Greek football All-Star game. Also home to various track-and-field meets.<ref name=etipos/>
|-
| [[Panthessaliko Stadium]]
| Football
| Home pitch for [[Niki Volou FC]] (football; Greek third division).<ref name=etipos/> Has also hosted concerts, conventions and track-and-field meets.<ref name=etipos/>
|-
| [[Panathinaiko Stadium|Panathainaiko Stadium]]
| Marathon, Archery
| Site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. One of Athens' major tourist attractions, also used for occasional sporting and concert events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=1777 |title=Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism &#124; Panathenaic Stadium |publisher=Odysseus.culture.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417070746/http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=1777 |archive-date=17 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mtv.gr/default.aspx?la=1&pid=7&eventid=38 |title = event details  |access-date=28 September 2008 |archive-date=28 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928105816/http://www.mtv.gr/default.aspx?la=1&pid=7&eventid=38 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.in.gr/news/article.asp?lngEntityID=941291 |title=news in.gr – Δωρεάν συναυλία στο Καλλιμάρμαρο δίνουν οι R.E.M |publisher=In.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205195737/http://www.in.gr/news/article.asp?lngEntityID=941291 |archive-date=5 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://new.e-go.gr/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911201640/http://new.e-go.gr/exodos/article.asp?catid=7266&subid=2&pubid=1324214|url-status=dead|title=Πρόγραμμα Τηλεοπτικών Σειρών - e-go.gr|archive-date=11 September 2008|website=Πρόγραμμα Τηλεοπτικών Σειρών - e-go.gr}}</ref>
|-
| [[Stadium at Olympia|The Ancient Stadium at Olympia]]
| Track and Field
| One of Greece's historic sites and largest tourist attractions, open to the public to this day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp?obj_id=2358 |title=Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism &#124; Olympia |publisher=Odysseus.culture.gr |access-date=15 March 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309070201/http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp?obj_id=2358| archive-date= 9 March 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| International Broadcast Centre (IBC)
| [[International Broadcast Centre]]
| Half of it (the section fronting [[Kifissias Avenue]]) has been turned over to the private company Lambda Development SA and has been converted to a luxury shopping, retail, office and entertainment complex known as the "Golden Hall".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lamda-development.net/online/Projects.aspx?MenuCategId=172&MenuModuleID=36&MenuModuleTable=Real_Company&LevelNo=1&PageCounts=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225003243/http://www.lamda-development.net/online/Projects.aspx?MenuCategId=172&MenuModuleID=36&MenuModuleTable=Real_Company&LevelNo=1&PageCounts=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 December 2008 |title=Lamda Development |publisher=Lamda Development |access-date=15 March 2010 }}</ref> The remaining section, facing the Olympic Stadium itself, will become home to the Hellenic Olympic Museum and the International Museum of Classical Athletics.<ref name=etipos/><ref name=grioc/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://fe-mail.gr/pages/posts/greece_europe_world/greece_europe_world2293.php |title=Ελλάδα – Ευρώπη – Κόσμος : Η ζωή έχει χρώμα |publisher=fe-mail.gr |access-date=15 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210224901/http://fe-mail.gr/pages/posts/greece_europe_world/greece_europe_world2293.php |archive-date=10 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| Olympic Athletes' Village
| Housing
| 2,292 apartments were sold to low-income individuals and today the village is home to over 8,000 residents.<ref name=etipos/> Several communal installations however are abandoned and heavily vandalised. Only half of the apartments were ever sold, and significantly fewer schools ended up being built than initially promised, thereby resulting in residents facing significant journeys to take their children to schools. Most of the shops to serve the village's residents closed within months of the Olympics finishing, and concerns were raised over sewage, damp and building material quality.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/8595360/Greeces-Olympic-dream-has-turned-into-a-nightmare-for-Village-residents.html | title=Greece's Olympic dream has turned into a nightmare for Village residents | date=23 June 2011 }}</ref> 
|-
| Olympic Press Village
| Housing
| It has been turned over to the private sector and namely Lamda Developments S.A. (the same company which owns and runs the Mall of Athens and the Golden Hall), and has been converted to luxury flats.
|}

===Arguments about possible effects on Greece's debt crisis===
[[File:Greek GDP.webp|thumb|300px|Greek GDP
{{legend-line|#001489 solid 3px|Real Quarterly GDP (chained 2010 Euros)}}
{{legend-line|#61D836 solid 3px|Nominal Quarterly GDP}}
]]
[[File:European debt to GDP ratios.webp|thumb|300px|European debt to GDP ratios
{{legend-line|#001489 solid 3px|[[Greece]] }}
{{legend-line|#CD212A solid 3px|[[Italy]] }}
{{legend-line|#F1BF00 solid 3px|[[Spain]] }}
{{legend-line|#046A38 solid 3px|[[Portugal]] }}
{{legend-line|#970E53 solid 3px|[[France]] }}
{{legend-line|#FF8200 solid 3px|[[Ireland]] }}
{{legend-line|#000000 solid 3px|[[Germany]] }}
]]
There have been arguments (mostly in popular media) that the cost of the 2004 Athens Summer Games was a contributor to the [[Greek government-debt crisis]] that started in 2010, while a lot of focus has been on the use of the facilities after the Games.<ref name="Olympic Cities: Booms and Busts">{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2012/01/19/Olympic-Cities:-Booms-and-Busts.html |title=Olympic Cities: Booms and Busts |publisher=CNBC |date=19 January 2012 |access-date=7 February 2014}}</ref>{{Failed verification|reason=The source makes no mention of the debt crisis.|date=October 2023}} This argument contradicts the fact that Greece's Debt to GDP ratio was essentially not affected until the [[2008 financial crisis]],<ref name="Debt Past">{{cite news|title=2010-2018 Greek Debt Crisis and Greece's Past: Myths, Popular Notions and Implications |url =https://www.academia.edu/37583185 |publisher=Academia.edu |access-date=14 October 2018}}</ref> while according to Olympic officials and some financial experts, the cost of the Games, which was spread over years of preparation, was insignificant compared to Greece's GDP and public debt.<ref name="Olympics debt">{{cite news |url= https://www.cnbc.com/2010/06/03/did-2004-olympics-spark-greek-financial-crisis.html| title= Did 2004 Olympics Spark Greek Financial Crisis?|work= CNBC|date= 3 June 2010 |access-date= 17 December 2018 }}</ref>

Furthermore, the aforementioned arguments do not even take into account the profits (direct and indirect) generated by the Games, which [[#Costs|may well have surpassed the above costs]]. Finally, popular arguments about "rotting" of many of the facilities, appear to ignore the actual [[#Legacy|utilization of many of these structures]]. On the other hand, the general government's deficit increase between 2000 and 2004 from 4.1% to 8.8% was a result of multiple factors and, until 2008, the effect of Greece's chronic - and widely fluctuating - deficits was counterbalanced by high GDP growth rates, leaving the Debt to GDP ratio essentially unaffected - see chart).

== See also ==
{{IOC seealso|games=2004 Summer Olympics }}
* [[List of 2004 Summer Olympics medal winners]]
* [[Olympic records at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Use of performance-enhancing drugs in the Olympic Games#2004 Athens|Use of performance-enhancing drugs in the Olympic Games – 2004 Athens]]
* [[World records at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}<references group="upper-alpha" />

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{external media|video1={{youTube|gapat6kMlBU|Athens 2004 Olympic Games - Official Olympic Film}}}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{IOC games|games=2004 Summer Olympics }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060102015817/http://www.athens2004.com/ Official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080511221421/http://www.athensguide.org/olympics-2004/opening-ceremony.html Pictures from the opening ceremony]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080928123502/http://www.chapman-freeborn.com/news/articles/040714.aspx Project to fly the 2004 Olympic Flame around the world on a B747 aircraft]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080421142658/http://www.stagelink.com/photopost/index.php/cat/2 Pictures backstage from the opening ceremony]
* [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/default.stm BBC coverage]

{{S-start}}
{{s-sports|soly}}
{{s-bef|before=[[2000 Summer Olympics|Sydney]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=XXVIII Olympiad<br/>[[Athens]]|years=2004}}
{{s-aft|after=[[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Olympic Games}}
{{Nations at the 2004 Summer Olympics}}
{{EventsAt2004SummerOlympics}}
{{2004 Summer Olympic venues}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Olympics|Greece|Sports|2000s}}

[[Category:2004 Summer Olympics| ]]
[[Category:Olympic Games in Greece]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Athens]]
[[Category:History of Greece since 1974]]
[[Category:2004 in Greek sport|Olympic Games]]
[[Category:Summer Olympics by year]]
[[Category:2004 in multi-sport events|Olympic Games]]
[[Category:2000s in Athens]]
[[Category:August 2004 sports events in Europe]]