Athens selected as host for 2004 Olympic Games

On September 5, 1997, the International Olympic Committee announced that Athens would host the 2004 Olympic Games. The decision was announced by then-IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch from the congress center in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Athens won the bid with a significant margin over its main competitor, Rome. Unlike the 1990 bid for the centennial games, which relied heavily on historical sentiment, the 1997 successful campaign was characterized by a modern and realistic infrastructure plan. Led by Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, the Greek bid focused on major transport developments, including the expansion of the metro system, the construction of a new airport, and the upgrading of the road network via the Attiki Odos.