It was the location of many of the sporting events at the Ancient Olympic Games.

The track was made of hard-packed clay to serve as traction for the contestants in the running events.

[3] As in current day athletics, a white block was placed on one end of the track where the athletes would line up to place their feet and got ready to start of the race.

[4] The white block was used to align all the athletes so they would all run the same distance.

[3] Media related to Stadium of Olympia at Wikimedia Commons