ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Athens’ marble Panathenaic Stadium, the venue of the first modern Olympics in 1896, is undergoing its first systematic cleaning in more than a century ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The U‑shaped stadium, built into a natural ravine and known as Kallimarmaro, serves as the ceremonial send‑off point for the Olympic flame and attracts many tourists. Cleaning crews in white and blue overalls use low‑pressure water spray and vacuum equipment to remove dirt and organic material from the 47 tiers, while steam is applied to lift chewing‑gum stains that have darkened over time. Officials say chewing gum, high‑heel marks and soft‑drink spills are among the main sources of staining. Dimitris Selemis, senior conservator at the site, said the goal is to remove surface dirt and the first layers of organic material to better understand the monument rather than to make it uniformly white. The renovation also includes a new track, upgraded lighting and fresh support facilities, funded privately by a shipping company and overseen by the Hellenic Olympic Committee with guidance from the Culture Ministry. Work is slated to continue through 2026, with current efforts focused on the curved “sling” section in preparation for the torch‑passing ceremony on September 10, which precedes the Dakar Youth Olympics in Senegal. IOC President Kirsty Coventry, a former swimming gold medalist from Zimbabwe, is scheduled to attend the September 10 ceremony, according to the committee.