Athens, the historic birthplace of the Olympic Games, hosted the modern Olympics in 1896 and again in 2004. The 2004 Games were marked by their return to the roots of the movement, with events held in both modern and ancient venues. While culturally symbolic and important to Olympic tradition, Athens was not the host of the 2012 Summer Olympics. That year, the torch was passed to another major European capital, where innovation and inclusivity took center stage on the global sporting stage.