ABSTRACT
The modern Olympic Games were first held in Athens in 1896, with subsequent Games held every four years thereafter. The Games have survived many trials, including wars and boycotts. Greece's successful bid to host the 2004, Twenty-eighth Olympic Games was announced by Juan Antonio Samaranch, President of the International Olympic Committee, on 5 September 1997. There are two basic conditions that must be satisfied for a city to be eligible to host the Olympic Games, Firstly, the amount of investment for the city's development must be in line with Olympic standards. Secondly, investments must be in accordance with the urban development concepts of the specific city. Cultural and sports tourism constitutes a specific form of tourism that, as defined below, can provide a boost to Greek tourism. The core idea was to emphasize the multicultural and international character of Olympic cultural activities by hosting major cultural events in Athens and some smaller events in the Greek periphery.
