View from Above Little of the competition will be held in central Athens, where the Acropolis is located. Most of the glamour events will take place at the 11-sport OAKA Complex, three miles to the north

OTHER HOST CITIES
Outside of Athens, soccer will take place in (red dots, from
top) Thessaloniki, Volos, Patras and Heraklio (on Crete). The
shot put will be held in Olympia, at the site of the ancient
Games.

1
ATHENS CITY CENTER The location of the Games' first showcase
event, the men's cycling road race, which will pass the
Acropolis, the Greek parliament and other landmarks.

2
PANATHINAIKO STADIUM The marathon finish and all archery events
will be staged at this 34,500-seat marble venue, built for the
1896 Games.

3
FALIRO COMPLEX Three sites built along the waterfront will host
volleyball, beach volleyball, taekwondo and team handball.

4
HELLINIKO COMPLEX Hangars from the old Helliniko Airport have
been converted into arenas for basketball prelims and team
handball finals. Baseball, softball, fencing, field hockey and
whitewater canoe/kayak will also take place here.

OAKA COMPLEX

A
OLYMPIC STADIUM Built in 1979 but renovated for the Games, it
will host track, the men's soccer final, and the opening and
closing ceremonies. Its much-discussed $132 million roof was
designed by architect Santiago Calatrava.

B
INDOOR HALL Gymnastics, trampoline and the basketball finals will
take place in this 19,000-seat arena.

C
AQUATIC CENTER Two outdoor pools will host swimming, water polo
and synchro swimming. Diving will be indoors.

D
VELODROME The bend of the wooden cycling track is echoed in the
double-bowstring steel and glass arch that covers it.

E
TENNIS CENTER The 8,600-seat venue will host matches on 10
courts.

A 17-DAY MARATHON

THE PEOPLE Almost 33% of Greece's 10.6 million citizens live in
or near Athens. That explains the city's two million cars--and
its congested streets.

THE CULTURE The cradle of Western civilization is a late-night
town where dining at 10--then heading out for more drinks and
music--is commonplace.

THE GAMES From Aug. 13 to 29, Athens will host 10,000 athletes,
20,000 media members and one million visitors, 15,000 of whom
will stay on ships in the port of Piraeus.

THREE COLOR MAPS: MAPS PREPARED BY INTERNATIONAL MAPPING ASSOCIATES; WWW.INTERNATIONALMAPPING.COM

COLOR PHOTO: YANNIS KONTOS/POLARIS