Talanx Purpose Stories - Kallimarmaro

The current heatwave across Europe highlights what climate models have indicated for years: extreme heat events are occurring earlier in the year, lasting longer, and reaching increasingly higher intensities. The impacts on people, ecosystems and infrastructure are often felt immediately. However, the consequences of climate change extend far beyond these direct effects: they also present new challenges for historically and culturally significant sites around the world, raising the question of how their long-term resilience can be strengthened to ensure their preservation for future generations.

Located in the heart of Athens, the Panathenaic Stadium – better known as the Kallimarmaro – is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble. It serves as the finishing point of the Athens Marathon and hosts the ceremony for the handover of the Olympic Flame. At the same time, this historic site is becoming increasingly exposed to a range of climate-related risks:

• Extreme heat, affecting visitors, staff and day-to-day operations
• More intense heavy rainfall events, placing potential strain on drainage systems
• Prolonged drought periods, which may accelerate material weathering and deterioration
• Smoke pollution from wildfires, impacting air quality and site usage

An initiative led by HDI Global and its subsidiary HDI Risk Consulting (HRC) combines scientifically robust climate risk analysis, proprietary HDI tools and local on-site expertise, with the aim of raising resilience awareness among decision-makers and identifying practical adaptation measures.

During this on-site assessment, HDI Global and HDI Risk Consulting are collaborating with the Hellenic Olympic Committee. This is not just about figures and models, but about responsibility:

• Quantifying and visualising climate risks
• Identifying vulnerabilities and particularly exposed areas
• Developing adaptation measures that support the protection of cultural heritage, the safety of visitors, and the future use of the site. These include, for example, the enhancement of drainage concepts, methods for monitoring material condition, and operational measures for extreme heat and poor air-quality events.

The insights gained from analyses such as these are not only relevant for historic monuments. They provide a clear example of how climate risks are transforming sites around the world and how data-driven adaptation strategies can help protect people and infrastructure over the long term.

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In Athens, the number of extremely hot days (>35°C) could triple over the next 30 years. Climate projections indicate that future extreme temperatures could reach around 46.6°C by 2060 and almost 50°C by 2100. The average annual number of heatwave days is expected to rise from 7.2 days in 1970 to 16.7 by 2030, 34.2 by 2060, and 65.1 by 2100. This development not only increases the burden on visitors and staff, but may also lead to greater thermal stress on historic materials and restrictions on events.

The HDI Risk Consulting team combines scientifically validated climate modelling with an understanding of the site’s unique cultural value. The analysis identifies key areas of potential vulnerability and proposes practical, heritage sensitive adaptation measures.

“The Panathenaic Stadium is more than an architectural masterpiece – it is a living symbol of our Olympic heritage. Our collaboration with HDI Global ensures that we protect this legacy for generations to come,” says Kostis Liarommatis, Member of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and Chair of the Sports and Environment Commission.

“Climate risks often only become apparent once damage has occurred or operations have already been disrupted. The objective is therefore to identify potential impacts at an early stage and present them in an understandable way. HDI Risk Consulting combines state-of-the-art climate risk analysis with engineering expertise. For the Panathenaic Stadium, we assess the development of heat, heavy rainfall and drought, together with their specific consequences, to derive measures that strengthen the long-term resilience of this important cultural heritage site.” Johanna Rohrer, Risk Analyst Natural Hazards

“We are proud to introduce an innovative climate-resilience service for one of the most emblematic monuments of ancient Greek history. The Panathenaic Stadium (Kallimarmaro) is not only a symbol of athletic excellence but a living testament to cultural continuity. Our role is to ensure that this heritage remains protected against accelerating climate change.” Konstantinos Semertzoglou, Managing Director of HDI Global SE, Hellas