Football: the large majority of locals in Athens are extremely passionate about football. There are two main rival football teams in the city: Panathinaikos and Olympiakos, and lovers of football should try to get tickets to watch a game. Football matches are played every Wednesday and Sunday during the football season, from September to May. The Panathinaikos football team play their home games at the Olympiako Stadium in Marousi and the Olympiakos football team play home games at the Karaiskaki Stadium in the Piraeus. Athens Marathon: if you are lucky enough to be in Athens during the annual marathon, you will be in for a treat. The inspiration for the marathon originated in ancient times, when a Greek messenger ran from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of the victory in what became known as the Battle of Marathon. The messenger died from exhaustion shortly after arriving in the city. The Athens Marathon is now a popular annual event and sees competitors from all across the world participate. It takes place on the first Sunday in November, but if you cannot make it, there are a number of mini marathons held in the city throughout the year. Course: courses are very popular in Athens and it is possible to learn new skills for a very reasonable price. The most popular courses include cooking, language and sailing, and they range in length from a just one day to several weeks. | 
