Jubilant crowds in Athens

Olympic Games Return to Greece in 2004

Athens beat off a challenge from Rome, Cape Town, Stockholm and Buenos Aires.

Within seconds of hearing Athens had won its bid, jubilant Greeks took to the streets. Ecstatic onlookers outside the offices of the Olympic bidding committee, beneath the ancient Acropolis, screamed, shouted and jumped with joy.

Such was the euphoria that even policemen shot their guns into the air. Greeks say the victory is doubly sweet following Athens' unexpected loss of the centennial Olympiad to Atlanta last year.

As the spiritual home of athletics, and as the nation which revived the modern Olympics in 1896, polls have shown an overwhelming number of Greeks believing it is time the games came home.