The games of the 28th summer olympiad returned to the birthplace of the Olympics - Athens, Greece. The games ran from August 13 to 29th 2004. Athens hosted 11,099 athletes, the largest number ever and also the most women athletes (40 %). Representatives from 202 countries took part, more than any other sports event and all but 5 countries sent women atheletes. The Olympic flame traveled for the first time to all continents. The shot put event was held in Olympia - the site of the ancient Olympic games. The Marathon was run from Marathonas to the Panathinaiko stadium (venue of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896). In essence the runners were running the route run by Phidippides after the battle of Marathon in whose honor the Marathon race was created. A record 4 billion viewers watched the games.