Greece is the smallest sovereign state to have hosted a Summer Olympics.
Athens hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics, returning the Games to the country where the ancient Olympic tradition began. Greece has a total area of about 132,000 square kilometres, smaller than every other sovereign country that has hosted a modern Summer Olympics.
The 2004 Games ran from 13 to 29 August and used venues across Athens and other Greek locations. More than 10,000 athletes competed in 28 sports.
The modern Olympic Games began in Athens in 1896, but the 2004 event was the first Summer Olympics held in Greece since the inaugural modern Games. The ancient Olympic Games were held at Olympia, in the Peloponnese, rather than in Athens.