Ollie-Lympian talks to BBC Sport Academy about modern athletics and looks forward to the 2004 Olympics returning to Athens.

Almost 3,000 years since the first Ancient Games and 108 years after the first Modern Games in Athens.

The Olympics will make a triumphant return to the Greek capital.

But the sport has changed incredibly since the Greeks heralded the arrival of the athletic heroes all those years ago.

Apart from during the First and Second World Wars, the modern Olympics have been held every four years.

As competitors spent more time training and competing, it became harder for them to combine athletics with their other jobs.

So in 1982, the IAAF abolished amateurism and by 1997, athletes were able to compete for prize money.

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Some would argue that decision meant the spirit of competition was gone forever.

But there is no doubting the added glamour the extra money in the sport has provided.

Until the 1970s, the major international athletic competitions were the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.

Athletes can now compete in many different events.

The World Championships, World Cup, World Indoor Championships, European Championships, European Cup and Grand Prix.

Modern athletes are now likely to have their own nutritionist, trainer, have their spiked footwear made specially for them.

And also wear tight-fitting gear to make them more streamline.

Nearly 11,000 athletes will compete at the Athens Games over 296 events in 28 sports.

The track and field stars will perform in front of an 80,000 capacity crowd in the newly developed Olympic Stadium.

The Olympics live on.