Athens hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and stages a major New Year's Eve celebration at Syntagma Square.
Athens is the capital of Greece and one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. The 1896 Games were organized as the first international Olympic event of the modern era, with competitions held at venues including the Panathenaic Stadium. The revival connected the modern sporting movement with the ancient Olympic tradition of Greece.
On New Year's Eve, Athens commonly holds public celebrations around Syntagma Square, the central square in front of the Hellenic Parliament. Programs may include concerts, performances, projections, and a midnight countdown. The exact entertainment changes from year to year, so the permanent fact is the location and the city's role as Greece's capital.
Athens is sometimes confused with Olympia when discussing the Olympics. Ancient Olympia was the sanctuary and site of the ancient Games; Athens hosted the inaugural modern Games in 1896.