Evangelos Marinakis is set to play a central role in the renovation of the Panathenaic Stadium after the Hellenic Olympic Committee agreed a strategic partnership with Capital Maritime & Trading Corp.
The project will see one of the most significant venues in world sport modernised, ensuring it can once again stage international athletics events while preserving its historic and cultural importance.
The Panathenaic Stadium holds a unique place in sporting history. With origins dating back to 330 BC, it was reconstructed in the 19th century to host the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, becoming a lasting symbol of the Olympic revival.
Under the agreement, Capital Maritime & Trading Corp will finance and carry out the renovation of the Athens stadium. The upgrades will include the installation of a new track surface that meets all Diamond League specifications, alongside the replacement of the existing lighting system with modern LED fixtures.
The improvements are designed to bring the stadium back into regular use for elite international athletics, combining modern standards with its historic setting. Alongside the stadium works, Marinakis will also sponsor the illumination of the façade of the Hellenic Olympic Committee headquarters.
The lighting design will be created by Eleftheria Deko, an internationally acclaimed Greek lighting designer who has previously worked on the illumination of the Acropolis.
Marinakis, who also owns Greek football club Olympiacos, Premier League side Nottingham Forest and Portuguese team Rio Ave, said the project reflects the wider meaning of the venue.
"The Panathenaic Stadium is far more than a sporting venue. It is a symbol of timeless Greek ideals – fair competition, sportsmanship, and friendship among peoples," said Marinakis.
"These values were born in ancient Greece, were revived with the first modern Olympic Games of 1896 in this very stadium and continue to inspire the world today. Our goal is to support this monument over the long term and keep it alive, reminding us that sport is not merely an event, but a continuation of values, history, and inspiration for future generations."
The president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Isidoros Kouvelos, praised Marinakis' contribution, highlighting both the scale and intent of the support being provided.
"Evangelos Marinakis is a person of sport who, as he has said many times, supports every effort that promotes its values with consistency and generosity," said Kouvelos.
"A true lover of the Olympic ideal and the value of sport. Now he continues to give in a meaningful way, both through the renovation works of the Panathenaic Stadium – making it suitable to host international athletics events – and through supporting athletes and initiatives requested by the Hellenic Olympic Committee.
"He is a sponsor without time or financial limits and without asking for any benefits in return, proving his love for Greek sport and Olympic education in practice. The Hellenic Olympic Committee owes him a big ‘thank you’ for his ongoing and invaluable contribution."
The renovation is expected to secure the future of the Panathenaic Stadium as both a living monument and a modern sporting venue, reinforcing its role at the heart of Greek sport and the Olympic movement.