Olympic flame cauldron at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, August 2004.
The Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival.
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, were celebrated in Athens, Greece, in August, 2004.
11,099 athletes competed, accompanied by 5,501 team officials from 201 countries.
The lighting ceremony of the Olympic Flame took place in Ancient Olympia. For the first time ever, the flame travelled around the world in a relay to former Olympic cities and other large cities, before returning to Greece.