Athens 2004 Athens was selected as the host city of the 2004 Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland on 5 September 1997. On that same day, the Host City Contract for the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad was signed. These events marked the beginning of a unique journey in the history of Olympism that will culminate in Greece from 13 to 29 August 2004. The Games are returning home to the country that gave birth to the Olympic celebration more than 2,000 years ago and the city that staged the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Greece is one of the smallest countries to undertake the task of organising and hosting Olympic Summer Games. To respond to this challenge, the country has engaged in an organisational effort with the vision of delivering unique Games on a human scale. The ATHENS 2004 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games is the body responsible for organising and hosting both the 2004 Olympic and Paralympic Games. To accomplish its mission and to ensure impeccable performance and functioning of all operational areas during the Games, ATHENS 2004 has joined forces with the Greek Government as well as with local authorities all over the country. Olympic Games in Other Countries 50 years ago in Helsinki: What the olympics meant to Finland? Norway and the Olympic Games Olympic competitors Norwegian Champion: Bjorn Dehlie Olympic passport of Eelco van der Geest Volunteers at the Olympics "Making the Games a Success Volunteers are the people who make the Games happen" Links Find out more about Olympic Games in Athens and goming to Athens.