An annual athletics competition is to be held at Ancient Olympia in Greece, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said on Friday.

The men's and women's shot put competitions were staged at Ancient Olympia during last year's Athens Olympics. They were the first contests since the original Games were abolished in 369.

International Association of Athletics Federations spokesman Nick Davies said the first competition would be held in May, 2006. He said the events would probably be restricted to the shot put, discus and hammer because of possible damage to the protected site.