The last heart-pounding race of the Summer Olympics ended Sunday in a white marble arena in the heart of Athens. That brings the modern Olympics a full circle- back to the precise spot where they were 1 108 years ago.
These games broke many records. Athens hosted 11,099 athletes, the largest number ever and also the most women athletes ever. 2 of 202 countries and areas took part, more than any other sporting event. The Olympic Games traveled for the first time to all 3 . Shot Put was held in Olympia and women competed there for the first time. It also 4 records as the most expensive and most fortified international sporting event ever 5 .
In the 2004 Athens Games, the runners, jumpers and 6 may not have set world records, but at least they outdid their 7 predecessors. For only the second time since 1988, the average gold-medal 8 . in track and field improved, though slightly. 9 . The improvements offer comfort to both sides in a scientific debate over the recent stagnation of Olympic performances and world records.
10 China"s Liu Xiang became the first Asian in history to win the men"s 110m hurdles at the Olympic Games. 11