Greece: Greece completes major restoration project at Parthenon.

Shotlist Athens, Greece - June 21, 2026 1. National flag of Greece; tourists 2. Various of restored Parthenon 3. Various of tourists; Parthenon 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Lydia Koniordou, former minister of culture and sports of Greece (partially overlaid with shot 5-6): "Our big request, our big hope and all our efforts is to bring back the stolen parts of the Parthenon which are in the British Museum now. It's very important to reunite this monument again." SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE FILE: Athens, Greece - Date Unknown 5. Restored Parthenon; tourists 6. Restored Parthenon SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE Athens, Greece - June 21, 2026 7. Various of restored Parthenon Storyline Greece's Ministry of Culture announced last week the completion of the restoration of the western pediment of the Parthenon, marking a major milestone in the long-term conservation of the ancient temple on the Acropolis in Athens. The restoration project, launched in 2022 and completed after nearly three years of work, is part of an ongoing effort to preserve one of the world's most important cultural monuments. With the removal of scaffolding from the Parthenon's western facade, visitors can now view the temple in its most complete form in around 220 years, according to the ministry. Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said the restoration has helped recover the monument's original proportions and overall appearance, describing it as a significant achievement in the protection of world cultural heritage. The ministry said the project was among the most technically demanding heritage conservation efforts undertaken in recent years. It was funded by the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Facility. Many people in Greece hope that the Parthenon sculptures stored in the British Museum could return to Athens soon. "Our big request, our big hope and all our efforts is to bring back the stolen parts of the Parthenon which are in the British Museum now. It's very important to reunite this monument again," said Lydia Koniordou, former minister of culture and sports of Greece. Built in the 5th century BC, the Parthenon is the centerpiece of the Acropolis and one of the most iconic monuments of ancient Greece. The Acropolis is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland/Greece]