Athens 2004
In 2004, the Olympic Games returned to Athens, the city where the first modern Olympics had been held in 1896. What a difference there was between that first Olympiad and the stunning sports spectacular celebrated 108 years later.
A record 201 teams took part in 301 sporting events at the XXVIII Olympiad. A massive four billion viewers all over the world watched the Olympics on television, with Athens 2004 marking the first time since 1996 that all countries with a National Olympic Committee were in attendance.
Swimmer Michael Phelps set a single Games record by winning eight medals. Sailor Birgit Fischer became the first athlete in any sport to win two medals at each of five successive Olympic Games.
Looking forward to Beijing 2008, Chinese athletes were at their best, taking home 63 medals, including
32 golds.
At the closing ceremony, the national anthems of Greece and China were played as the Mayor of Athens handed the Olympic Flag to the Mayor of Beijing.
