Editing Tour Athens Dash

|image=[[File:MKT Athens Dash Scene 2.jpg|300px]]<br>View of the {{wp|Theatre of Dionysus}}

|appears_in=''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'' (2023)<br>''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' (''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|Booster Course Pass]]'', Wave 5) (2023)

|tours='''Athens Dash:'''<br>[[Spring Tour]]<br>[[Vacation Tour]]<br>'''Athens Dash 2:'''<br>[[Spring Tour]]<br>[[Vacation Tour]]<br>'''Athens Dash 3'''<br>[[Anniversary Tour (2023)]]

|sample='''''Mario Kart Tour'''''<br>[[File:MKT Athens Dash Theme.oga]]<br>'''''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'''''<br>Normal<br>[[File:Switch Tour AthensDash BCP.oga]]<br>Frontrunning<br>[[File:Switch_Tour_Athens_Dash_Frontrunning_BCP.mp3]]

|map=''Mario Kart Tour''<br><small>Athens Dash</small><br>[[File:MKT Map AthensDash.png|140px]]<br><small>Athens Dash 2</small><br>[[File:MKT Map AthensDash2.png|140px]]<br><small>Athens Dash 3</small><br>[[File:MKT Map AthensDash3.png|140px]]<br>''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''<br>[[File:MK8DX Tour Athens Dash Map.png|140px]]

|ghost={{ghost|8DX <small>150cc</small>|Nin★Pedro|1:52.892|[[File:MK8DX Wiggler Icon.png|32px|link=Wiggler]][[File:MK8 Orange Circuit Special.png|32px|link=Circuit Special]][[File:SpongeTiresMK8.png|32px|link=Sponge]][[File:MK8ThumbOrangeSG.png|32px|link=Super Glider]]}}{{ghost|8DX <small>200cc</small>|Nin★Massim|1:21.362|[[File:MK8DX Dry Bones Icon.png|32px|link=Dry Bones]][[File:StandardKartBodyMK8D DryBones.png|32px|link=Standard Kart]][[File:MonsterTiresMK8.png|32px|link=Monster (tire)]][[File:MK8DThumbDryBonesSG.png|32px|link=Super Glider]]}}

'''Athens Dash''' is a race course in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]''. It is set in [[Athens]], {{wp|Greece}} and first appeared in the [[Spring Tour]], making it the first city course to debut in a tour that is not named after the city it is based on. The course is the fifth course set in a European city. The course visits various landmarks of the city it is based upon, specifically atop the {{wp|Acropolis of Athens|Acropolis}}, and the various ruins atop it, such as the [[Parthenon]] and the {{wp|Erechtheion}}. Unlike most other city courses, Athens Dash largely keeps the city proper to the background, instead focusing on the ancient ruins the city is known for. Also unlike other real world city courses, which tend to reconstruct real world buildings faithfully, this course takes many liberties regarding its design, such as placing a gigantic statue of {{wp|Athena}} outside the Parthenon, made of ivory and gold and wielding a spear and shield, similarly to the long-disappeared statue of {{wp|Athena Parthenos}}. Like [[Tour Sydney Sprint|Sydney Sprint]] and [[Tour Singapore Speedway|Singapore Speedway]], the track largely does not condense landmarks down and instead situates the ones featured around where they are in real life, though akin to the former, it takes more liberties with the layout and what's included. The starting banner consists of two golden statues of {{wp|Danaïdes}} holding vases of water.

There are three routes for this course, named Athens Dash, '''Athens Dash 2''', and '''Athens Dash 3'''. The first two routes debuted together while the third route debuted in the [[Anniversary Tour (2023)|2023 Anniversary Tour]]. The first route takes racers to the {{wp|Theatre of Dionysus}} and [[Hadrian's Arch]], the second route takes racers off the Acropolis, and the third route features the {{wp|Odeon of Herodes Atticus}} and a large drop onto the Theatre of Dionysus. Additionally, the first route starts in the opposite direction compared to the other two. It is the first city course in ''Mario Kart Tour'' to debut in 2023; additionally, the period of time between its introduction and the introduction of the previous city course is longer than any other city course, with twenty-one tours between [[Tour Bangkok Rush|Bangkok Rush]]'s debut in the [[Bangkok Tour]] and Athens Dash's debut in the Spring Tour. Athens Dash is also the first city course to feature [[Half-pipe (object)|half-pipes]] and the second city course to lack any [[Lists of sponsors|sponsor]] advertisements, the first being Singapore Speedway. Prior to the official reveal of Athens Dash, references to assets for this course such as pillars and doorways were left within the game's internal data, all of which were appended with the course's internal abbreviation (<tt>mobat</tt>).

Athens Dash returns in ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' as the first course of the [[Feather Cup]] in the ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|Booster Course Pass]]''.

|1=<div style=background:#999999>[[File:MKT FullMap AthensDash.png|120px]][[File:MKT FullMap AthensDash2.png|120px]][[File:MKT FullMap AthensDash3.png|120px]]</div>

===Athens Dash===

Racers start inside the [[Parthenon]]. Upon leaving the Parthenon, racers soon take a left turn before going down hill to approach some ruins. Racers can choose to jump off of a ramp and drive along the floor, or jump up on some arches and collect a few coins. After avoiding some ruins that create a fork in the road, racers drive up a ramp before landing on the {{wp|Theatre of Dionysus}}. After curving along the seats, racers drive off a boost panel, and take two left turns to enter a cannon located beneath the [[Hadrian's Arch]], taking them back up to the Acropolis via a tunnel that has swarms of [[Swoop]]s. After exiting the tunnel and taking a left turn, racers make their way back to the Parthenon to reach the finish line.

The course also appears as '''Athens Dash R''' (reversed), '''Athens Dash T''' (with ramps), and '''Athens Dash R/T''' (reversed with ramps). In the R and R/T variants, racers leave the Theatre of Dionysus via road that's not present on the minimap. In the T variant, the Swoops are gone. In the R/T variant, the starting line is now located in the middle of the former gliding section near Hadrian's Arch, making this course one of five courses in ''Mario Kart Tour'' to not start in the same location as the original, the others being [[3DS Rock Rock Mountain|3DS Rock Rock Mountain T]], [[3DS Rainbow Road|3DS Rainbow Road T, 3DS Rainbow Road R/T]], and [[Tour Singapore Speedway|Singapore Speedway R/T]]. The gliding section itself is now shortened to begin after the new starting line.

For this course's tour appearances, see [[List of Athens Dash tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour#Athens Dash|List of Athens Dash tour appearances in ''Mario Kart Tour'' § Athens Dash]].

====Top-tier and middle-tier items====

{{MKT favored table|new|Athens Dash}}

 

 

===Athens Dash 2===

This route starts in the opposite direction of the first route. After leaving the [[Parthenon]], racers take a left turn and approach the {{wp|Erechtheion}} briefly before taking a [[Glide Ramp|glide ramp]] into a street resembling {{wp|Monastiraki}}, driving down many sets of staircases as they approach a wide U-bend. After the U-bend, racers approach the {{wp|Roman Agora}} while avoiding a [[Thwomp]]. They then begin driving uphill, avoiding [[boulder]]s that fall down the Acropolis. Here, there is a shortcut in a narrow tunnel that can be reached with a boost. Once up the Acropolis, racers drive beneath the {{wp|Beulé Gate}} and the {{wp|Propylaea}} while avoiding a pair of [[Goomba]]s. After a brief straightaway, they approach the finish line.

 

The course also appears as '''Athens Dash 2R''' (reversed), '''Athens Dash 2T''' (with ramps), and '''Athens Dash 2R/T''' (reversed with ramps). In all three variants, the boulders and Goombas are gone. In the R variant, there are two Thwomps positioned side-by-side, and racers use a [[Cannon (Mario Kart series)|cannon]] just after the wide U-bend. In the T variant, there are five Thwomps throughout the course, and the gliding section is gone; racers instead use a glide ramp once up the Acropolis. In the R/T variant, all Thwomps are gone.

 

 

 

 

This route starts in the same direction as the second route. After exiting the [[Parthenon]], racers immediately take a right turn to drive on a [[Dash Panel|dash panel]] ramp, sending them on a long fall onto the {{wp|Theatre of Dionysus}}. Upon landing, racers drive on a road connecting to the stage of the theatre, turning right to approach the ruins. After taking a split path around a ruin in the middle of the road and tricking off fallen pillars, racers take a left into an entrance to the {{wp|Odeon of Herodes Atticus}}. Racers drive across the Odeon's stage before ascending a section of seats covered in dirt to leave the Odeon. Racers then take a right next to the {{wp|Beulé Gate}} to climb up some stairs and drive beneath the {{wp|Propylaea}}, while avoiding a pair of [[Thwomp]]s, before taking one last straightaway to the finish line.

The course also appears as '''Athens Dash 3R''' (reversed), '''Athens Dash 3T''' (with ramps), and '''Athens Dash 3R/T''' (reversed with ramps). In the R and T variants, the Thwomps are gone. In the R variant, racers use a [[Glide Ramp|glide ramp]] to exit the Theatre of Dionysus. In the T variant, there is a glide ramp that allows racers to glide over the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. In the R/T variant, the pair of Thwomps now appears where racers exit the threate.

====Top-tier and middle-tier items====

{{MKT favored table|new|Athens Dash 3}}

 

{{MKT bonus challenge table|Time Trial|Athens Dash 3}}

[[File:MK8-Course-Tour AthensDash.jpg|thumb|right|250px|{{classic|Tour|Athens Dash}} in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'']]

Athens Dash returns in ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' as part of Wave 5 of the ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|Booster Course Pass]]'' DLC. It appears as the first course of the [[Feather Cup]]. It has received significant visual upgrades compared to its appearance in ''Mario Kart Tour''. The cannon from the first route has been replaced with a normal Glide Ramp. As Athens Dash 3 had yet to be released when this course was added to the Booster Course Pass, Athens Dash is one of the two ''Tour'' city courses alongside [[Tour Sydney Sprint|Sydney Sprint]] to be added to the pass before all three variants were released. The course features a second starting line (along the Athens Dash 3 route), making it the second course in the ''Mario Kart'' series to open a cup and use sections (after [[Wuhu Loop]] in ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'') and the third course in the series to feature both laps and sections, the first two being {{classic link|N64|Kalimari Desert}} and {{classic link|Tour|Singapore Speedway}} (though unlike those courses, the section replaces the second lap rather than the third). It is used to begin the second lap, while the third and final lap starts in reverse along the Athens Dash 2 route.<ref>@NintendoAmerica (July 7, 2023). "[https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1677435870075572224 ''The Feather Cup arrives in Wave 5 of the #MarioKart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass! Enjoy two classic courses in Daisy Cruiser and Moonview Highway, a historical tour with Athens Dash, and the brand new course, Squeaky Clean Sprint!'']" ''Twitter''. Retrieved July 9, 2023.</ref> Lap 1 follows the route of 1, although instead of racers turning left toward the finish line, racers take a U-turn to section 2. Section 2 follows Athens Dash 3's route, and Lap 3 takes on the route of 2. Many changes have been made. The beginning ramp was changed to a wooden one, leading to the raised pillar route being adjusted and the split path at the bottom is removed. The pillars take after their functionality from Athens Dash 3, rather than being short and static like in Athens Dash 1 and 2. The large drop on the Athens Dash 3 route now has several consecutive trickable green ramps on the way down (similar in function to Athens Dash 3T's singular [[Kanaami Road]]), leading racers to more consistently land on the {{wp|Theatre of Dionysus}}'s stage. The Thwomps have been removed. The minimap has also been rotated 90° clockwise.

 

{{classic|Tour|Athens Dash}} is one of three courses from ''Mario Kart Tour'' to be present in the fifth wave, alongside {{classic link|Tour|Los Angeles Laps}} and {{classic link|Tour|Vancouver Velocity}}.

Internally, the course is referred to as "Cnsw_65", implying it may have originally been intended to be the first course of the [[Spiny Cup]] and thus possibly originally being intended to be the final city course of the pass.

On the Nintendo Switch's newsfeed in North America, an article erroneously names this course as '''{{classic|Tour|Athens Drift}}'''.<ref>July 11, 2023. [https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/mario-kart-8-deluxe-booster-course-pass-more-courses-more-characters-more-giant-toilets/ Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass: More courses! More characters! More … giant toilets?!] nintendo.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20230712025716/https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/mario-kart-8-deluxe-booster-course-pass-more-courses-more-characters-more-giant-toilets/ Archived] July 12, 2023, 02:57:16 UTC via Wayback Machine.)</ref>

Unlike other city courses that do not use staff ghosts from their home nations, Athens Dash has a Spanish staff ghost, rather than an American or Japanese one.

**''Here's a sneak peek of what's to come in #MarioKartTour! Toad and Yoshi went ahead to check out the new tour location and sent a picture back. It looks like some races are about to heat up in a historic city with towering temples.''<ref>mariokarttourEN (April 13, 2023). [https://twitter.com/mariokarttourEN/status/1646392775540375555 ''Twitter'']. Retrieved April 14, 2023.</ref>

**''The Yoshi Tour is wrapping up in #MarioKartTour. Next up is the Spring Tour featuring the course Athens Dash course{{sic}}, along with other European city courses!''<ref>mariokarttourEN (April 14, 2023). [https://twitter.com/mariokarttourEN/status/1646776764423868418 ''Twitter'']. Retrieved August 5, 2023.</ref>

 

MKT Icon AthensDash ToadTourist.png|The course icon

MKT Icon AthensDashR KitsuneLuigi.png|The course icon of the R variant

MKT Icon AthensDashT LightblueShyGuyExplorer.png|The course icon of the T variant

MKT Icon AthensDashRT LuigiChef.png|The course icon of the R/T variant

MKT Icon AthensDash2 ToadAstronaut.png|The course icon

MKT Icon AthensDash2R ToadetteSailor.png|The course icon of the R variant

MKT Icon AthensDash2T LightblueShyGuyExplorer.png|The course icon of the T variant

MKT Icon AthensDash2RT Poochy.png|The course icon of the R/T variant

|Jpn=アテネ ポリス

|JpnR=Atene Porisu

|JpnM=Athens Polis;「ポリス」is a transliteration of "πόλης", a Greek word meaning "city".

|FreM=Antique Athens

|Rus=Афинские красоты

|RusR=Afinskiye krasoty

|RusM=Athenian Beauty

|SpaAM=Athenian periplus

==Notes==

*Athens Dash is the second course in the ''Mario Kart'' series to feature three different [[Finish line (object)|finish line]] locations, but to only have one of them ever be used among its numbered routes in ''Mario Kart Tour'' (the first being Singapore Speedway). They are:

**The finish line in Athens Dash, Athens Dash 2, and Athens Dash 3, and beginning the first and third laps in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''.

**The finish line beginning the second lap of the course in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''.