Athens

=== Sports ===
{{See also|List of sports clubs in Athens Municipality}}
[[File:Panathinaikos_-_Sparta_Prague_DSC00055.JPG|thumb|[[Panathinaikos FC]] vs [[Sparta Prague]] in the [[Athens Olympic Stadium]], 2008]]
[[File:The Panathenaic Stadium on April 22, 2021.jpg|thumb|The Panathenaic Stadium of Athens ([[Panathenaic Stadium|Kallimarmaron]]) dates back to the fourth century BC and has hosted the [[1896 Summer Olympics|first modern Olympic Games]] in 1896.]]
[[File:GIPEDO AEK-1.jpg|thumb|[[Agia Sophia Stadium]]]]

Athens has a long tradition in sports and sporting events, serving as home to the most important clubs in [[Sport in Greece|Greek sport]] and housing a large number of sports facilities. The city has also been host to sports events of international importance.

Athens has hosted the [[Summer Olympic Games]] twice, in [[1896 Summer Olympics|1896]] and [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004]]. The 2004 Summer Olympics required the development of the [[Olympic Stadium (Athens)|Athens Olympic Stadium]], which has since gained a reputation as one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world, and one of its most interesting modern monuments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Athens 21st Century – Athens Olympic Stadium |url=http://www.athens-today.com/e-olimpica_stadio.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216232456/http://www.athens-today.com/e-olimpica_stadio.htm |archive-date=16 February 2009 |access-date=26 December 2008 |publisher=Athens-today.com}}</ref> The biggest stadium in the country, it hosted two finals of the [[UEFA Champions League]], in [[1994 UEFA Champions League Final|1994]] and [[2007 UEFA Champions League Final|2007]]. Athens' other major stadiums are the [[Karaiskakis Stadium]] located in [[Piraeus]], a sports and entertainment complex, host of the [[1971 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|1971 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final]], and [[Agia Sophia Stadium]] located in [[Nea Filadelfeia]].

Athens has hosted the [[EuroLeague]] final three times, the first in 1985 and second in [[FIBA European Championship 1992–93|1993]], both at the [[Peace and Friendship Stadium]], most known as SEF, a large indoor arena,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Athens 21st Century – The Olympic Coastal Complex |url=http://www.athens-today.com/e-olimpica_faliro.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214023850/http://www.athens-today.com/e-olimpica_faliro.htm |archive-date=14 February 2009 |access-date=26 December 2008 |publisher=Athens-today.com}}</ref> and the third time in [[2006–07 Euroleague|2007]] at the [[Olympic Indoor Hall]]. Events in other sports such as [[Track and field athletics|athletics]], volleyball, [[water polo]] etc., have been hosted in the capital's venues.

Athens is home to three European multi-sport clubs: [[Panathinaikos A.O.|Panathinaikos]], originated in Athens city centre, [[Olympiacos CFP|Olympiacos]], originated in the suburb of [[Piraeus]] and [[Athletic Union of Constantinople|AEK Athens]], originated in the suburb of [[Nea Filadelfeia]]. In [[association football|football]], [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] made it to the [[1971 European Cup Final]], [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] have dominated domestic competitions, while [[AEK Athens F.C.|AEK Athens]] is the other member of the [[P.O.K.|big three]]. These clubs also have basketball teams; [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]] and [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]] are among the top powers in European basketball, having won the [[Euroleague Basketball|Euroleague]] six times and three respectively, whilst [[AEK Athens B.C.|AEK Athens]] was the first Greek team to win a European trophy in any team sport.

Other notable clubs within Athens are [[Athinaikos]], [[Panionios]], [[Atromitos F.C.|Atromitos]], [[Apollon Smyrni F.C.|Apollon]], [[Panellinios G.S.|Panellinios]], [[Egaleo F.C.]], [[Ethnikos Piraeus]], [[Maroussi B.C.|Maroussi BC]] and [[Peristeri B.C.]] Athenian clubs have also had domestic and international success in other sports.

The Athens area encompasses a variety of [[terrain]], notably hills and mountains rising around the city, and the capital is the only major city in Europe to be bisected by a [[mountain range]]. Four mountain ranges extend into city boundaries and thousands of kilometres of trails criss-cross the city and neighbouring areas, providing exercise and wilderness access on [[hiking|foot]] and [[Mountain biking|bike]].

Beyond Athens and across the prefecture of Attica, outdoor activities include [[skiing]], [[rock climbing]], [[hang gliding]] and windsurfing. Numerous outdoor clubs serve these sports, including the Athens Chapter of the [[Sierra Club]], which leads over 4,000 outings annually in the area.

Athens was awarded the 2004 Summer Olympics on 5 September 1997 in [[Lausanne]], Switzerland, after having lost a previous bid to host the [[1996 Summer Olympics]], to [[Atlanta]], United States.<ref name=oly/> It was to be the second time Athens would host the games, following the inaugural event of 1896. After an unsuccessful bid in 1990, the 1997 bid was radically improved, including an appeal to Greece's Olympic history. In the last round of voting, Athens defeated Rome with 66 votes to 41.<ref name=oly/> Prior to this round, the cities of [[Buenos Aires]], Stockholm and [[Cape Town]] had been eliminated from competition, having received fewer votes.<ref name=oly/> Although the heavy cost was criticized, estimated at $1.5&nbsp;billion, Athens was transformed into a more functional city that enjoys modern technology both in transportation and in modern [[urban planning|urban development]].<ref name="olyy">{{Cite news |date=30 August 2004 |title=Athens bids farewell to the Games |work=CNN |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SPORT/08/29/closing.ceremony/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115082941/http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SPORT/08/29/closing.ceremony/ |archive-date=15 January 2008}}</ref> The games welcomed over 10,000 athletes from all 202 countries.<ref name=olyy/>