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105-728: The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad , also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games ) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta , Georgia , United States . These were the fourth Summer Olympics to be hosted by the United States, making it the first country to have three different cities host

210-506: A Jeopardy! international tournament , and three weeks of Wheel of Fortune episodes filmed on-location at Atlanta's Fox Theatre . The Games were affected by several instances of ambush marketing —in which companies attempt to use the Games as a means to promote their brand, in competition with the exclusive, category-based sponsorship rights issued by the Atlanta organizing committee and

315-465: A commemorative plaque was unveiled for Centennial Olympic Park to honor the 20th anniversary of the Games. Following the Braves' departure from Turner Field to Truist Park in 2017, Georgia State University acquired the former Olympic Stadium and surrounding parking lots. It reconfigured the stadium for a second time into Center Parc Stadium for its college football team . The 1996 Olympic cauldron

420-613: A 1.25-million-square-foot (116,000 m ) mixed-used office building, contains the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and offices for several other federal agencies, including the Department of Energy's regional office. Further north in the Fairlie-Poplar district of Downtown is the U.S. Court of Appeals . This court takes federal cases from the states of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. It

525-507: A 72,000-square-foot (6,700 m ) full service athletic facility. Transit access is provided MARTA's Peachtree Center station that is directly connected to it. Centennial Yards is a $ 5 billion mixed-use development that is expected to be completed in 2026. The transformative 50-acre project will bring more restaurants, entertainment, housing, hotel rooms, and retail stores to downtown. The Consulate-General of Argentina , The Consulate-General of Germany , Consulate of Belgium , and

630-723: A British colony (1842–1997). This meant that for the only time, the colonial flag of Hong Kong was raised to the accompaniment of the British national anthem " God Save the Queen ", as Hong Kong's sovereignty was later transferred to China in 1997. The U.S. women's soccer team won the gold medal in the first-ever women's football event. For the first time, Olympic medals were won by athletes from Armenia , Azerbaijan , Belarus , Burundi , Czech Republic , Ecuador , Georgia , Hong Kong , Kazakhstan , Moldova , Mozambique , Slovakia , Tonga , Ukraine , and Uzbekistan . Another first in Atlanta

735-472: A dedicated hotel-convention district that lay at the heart of the Downtown economy, even as the remainder of Downtown Atlanta deteriorated markedly. The closure of Underground Atlanta in 1979 due to an increase in crime contributed to perceptions that Downtown was dangerous, and the 1980s saw a significant decline in population. By 1990, Five Points was a "vacant shell of its former self," while Downtown as

840-628: A district for entertainment and shopping. It contains retail stores, restaurants that serve a variety of different foods, and several nightclubs in Kenny's Alley. The Mall at Peachtree Center , located on Peachtree Street, has 60 specialty shops, including six full-scale restaurants, as well as a regular food court, a conference center in the South Tower. It also includes the Peachtree Center Athletic Club, which contains

945-729: A fireworks display for the Independence Day holiday. Hurt Park with its lighted fountain was an attraction in the 1940s and 1950s, and is a reminder of a bygone time. Just north of Centennial Olympic Park is the Georgia Aquarium , the world's third largest aquarium, after Marine Life Park in Singapore built in 2012 and the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China built in 2010. The Georgia Aquarium remains

1050-422: A four-year suspension in 1998 for tampering with a urine sample, though her medals and records were allowed to stand. In track and field, Donovan Bailey of Canada won the men's 100 m, setting a new world record of 9.84 seconds at that time. He also anchored his team's gold in the 4 × 100 m relay . Michael Johnson won gold in both the 200 m and 400 m, setting a new world record of 19.32 seconds in

1155-577: A local cauldron lighting event on the first day of the Games (headlined by a performance by country musician Trisha Yearwood ). In 1994, African-American artist Kevin Cole was commissioned to create the Coca-Cola Centennial Olympic Mural, and the 15-story mural took two years to complete. The ceremony began with a 60-second countdown, which included footage from all of the previous Olympic Games at twenty-two seconds. There

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1260-562: A million people attend conventions at the Georgia World Congress Center annually, and as many 125,000 people attend a single event. Located near the MARTA Five Points Station, Underground Atlanta is Downtown's shopping and entertainment district. During the 1920s, streets in the area were raised above the ground (and the railroad tracks) for a better flow of traffic. Under these viaducts is

1365-556: A much smaller downtown area measuring just one and two tenths square miles. This area is roughly bound by North Avenue to the north, Piedmont Avenue and the Downtown Connector to the east, Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Courtland Street, and Edgewood Avenue to the south, and the railroad tracks to the west. This area only includes the core central business district neighborhoods of Fairlie-Poplar, Five Points,

1470-417: A pipe bomb was detonated at Centennial Olympic Park (which had been built to serve as a public focal point for the festivities), killing two and injuring 111. Years later, Eric Rudolph confessed to the bombing and a series of related terrorist attacks, and was sentenced to life in prison. Nonetheless, the 1996 Olympics turned a profit, helped by record revenue from sponsorship deals and broadcast rights, and

1575-458: A reliance on private funding, among other factors. There were 8.3 million tickets sold for events at this Olympics, a record broken only in 2024. There was some criticism of the perceived over-commercialization of the Games, with other issues raised by European officials, such as the availability of food and transport. The event had a lasting impact on the city; Centennial Olympic Park led a revitalization of Atlanta's downtown area , and has served as

1680-659: A selected group of athletes, rather than everybody, which was the case with the Olympic Games. The Soviets organized the first Spartakiad in 1920, a communist alternative to the 'bourgeois' Olympic Games, and in 1922 the University Olympia was organizedor in Italy , the forerunner of the World University Games , meant for students only. Regional games were another kind of multi-sport event that

1785-648: A statement, saying: "the purpose of the attack on July 27th was to confound, anger and embarrass the Washington government in the eyes of the world for its abominable sanctioning of abortion on demand." He received four life sentences without parole , to be served at USP Florence ADMAX near Florence, Colorado . Preparations for the Olympics lasted more than seven years and had an economic impact of at least US$ 5.14 billion. Over two million visitors came to Atlanta, and approximately 3.5 billion people around

1890-1028: A strong presence in Downtown. The U.S. Census Bureau has its Atlanta Regional Office in the Centennial Tower and the Atlanta Regional Census Center in Suite 1000 in the Marquis Two Tower in the Peachtree Center . The National Transportation Safety Board operates the Atlanta Aviation Field Office in the Atlanta Federal Center in Downtown Atlanta. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building

1995-763: A symbol of the legacy of the 1996 Games; the Olympic Village buildings have since been used as residential housing for area universities; and the Centennial Olympic Stadium has since been redeveloped twice, first as the Turner Field baseball stadium, then as the Center Parc American football stadium. Atlanta was selected on September 18, 1990, in Tokyo, Japan , over Athens, Belgrade, Manchester, Melbourne, and Toronto at

2100-582: A target for the Union Army . In 1864, General William T. Sherman burned Atlanta to the ground during his March to the Sea , making Atlanta the only major American city to be destroyed by war. Atlanta's first resurgence began during Reconstruction . In 1868, Georgia's state capital was moved to the city from Milledgeville . By the 1920s, a downtown business sector ringed by residential districts had emerged. Professional sports came to Atlanta in 1965 with

2205-500: A team rhythmic gymnastics event. In women's gymnastics, Ukrainian Lilia Podkopayeva became the all-around Olympic champion. Podkopayeva also won a second gold medal in the floor exercise final and a silver on the beam – becoming the only female gymnast since Nadia Comăneci to win an individual event gold after winning the all-around title in the same Olympics. Kerri Strug of the United States women's gymnastics team vaulted with an injured ankle and landed on one foot, winning

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2310-557: A university-led transformation of Downtown that sought to make Georgia State "a part of the city, not apart from the city." Dubbed the Main Street Master Plan, Patton's vision has been executed through billions of dollars of urban construction, boosting Downtown's economy and population. On March 14, 2008, at approximately 9:40 pm Eastern Daylight Time , an EF2 tornado hit Downtown with winds up to 135 miles per hour (217 km/h). It caused damage to Philips Arena,

2415-555: A whole was largely an "archepelagic assemblage of fortified enclaves inhabited in the daylight hours by government office workers, conventioners, and college students, and in the night by a substantial population of homeless persons." The 1996 Olympic Games , along with the transformation of Georgia State University from a commuter school to a traditional college, initiated a resurgence of Downtown that continues today. They resulted in Centennial Olympic Park , which

2520-692: Is a music concert hall built in 1910 for the Tabernacle Baptist Church. In 1996 it was converted into a House of Blues Club for the Olympics. It was renamed "The Tabernacle" in 1998. The concert hall is four stories and can seat 2600. AmericasMart is a wholesale trade center consisting of four buildings totaling seven million square feet. The Mart hosts several trade shows every year including Market Wednesday, Atlanta Apparel, Atlanta Spring Immediate Delivery, and The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market. Some permanent showrooms are open daily, though many are open only part of

2625-497: Is a reinvigorated Downtown, especially in the areas around Woodruff Park and Sweet Auburn . Downtown Atlanta is in Atlanta Public Schools (APS). Zoned schools are: Centennial Place Academy ( K-8 school ), and Midtown High School (formerly Henry W. Grady High School). Downtown is a transportation hub for the entire region. The Downtown Connector runs north and south through the district. The Connector

2730-636: Is located South Downtown . Its gold dome is visible from the Downtown Connector . The Fulton County Government Center, the seat of the Fulton County Government, is located on Pryor Street. The Fulton County Courthouse is located directly across the street from the Fulton County Government Center. A few blocks away from the U.S. Court of Appeals is the State Bar of Georgia building, the former location of

2835-637: Is officially named the Elbert P. Tuttle U.S. Court of Appeals building, named after a former Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (the predecessor court to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit). Downtown is also marked by its state, county, and city government facilities. The Georgia State Capitol , the seat of the government for the State of Georgia,

2940-403: The 1956 Summer Olympics and after Brisbane, Australia 's failed bid for the 1992 games (which were awarded to Barcelona ) and prior to Sydney, Australia 's successful 2000 Summer Olympics bid. This would be Toronto's fourth failed attempt since 1960 (tried in 1960, 1964, and 1976, but was defeated by Rome, Tokyo and Montreal). Greece , the home of the ancient and first modern Olympics ,

3045-460: The 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer ) were: Armenia , Belarus , Czech Republic , Georgia , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Moldova , Slovakia , Ukraine and Uzbekistan . The Czech Republic and Slovakia attended the games as independent nations for the first time since the breakup of Czechoslovakia , while the rest of the nations that made their Summer Olympic debut were formerly part of

3150-526: The 2004 Summer Olympics seven years later on September 5, 1997. The total cost of the 1996 Summer Olympics was estimated to be around US$ 1.7 billion. The venues and the Games themselves were funded entirely via private investment, and the only public funding came from the U.S. government for security, and around $ 500 million of public money used on physical public infrastructure including streetscaping, road improvements, Centennial Olympic Park (alongside $ 75 million in private funding), expansion of

3255-454: The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, have caused some to offer more positive reappraisals of the management of the 1996 Summer Games. Former JPMorgan Chase president (and torchbearer) Kabir Sehgal noted that in contrast to many later Olympics, those of 1996 were financially viable, had a positive economic impact on the city, and most of the facilities constructed continued to be used after

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3360-485: The 96th IOC Session . The city entered the competition as a dark horse , being up against stiff competition. The US media also criticized Atlanta as a second-tier city and complained of Georgia's Confederate history . However, the IOC Evaluation Commission ranked Atlanta's infrastructure and facilities the highest, while IOC members said that it could guarantee large television revenues similar to

3465-505: The Bank of America Plaza building, is situated between Midtown Atlanta and Downtown. Rising at 1,023 feet (312 m), Bank of America Plaza is also the tallest building in any of the U.S. state capitals, and one of the tallest buildings in the United States outside of New York City and Chicago . Downtown is the heart and the largest of the three business districts of the city. This area contains striking architecture dating as far back as

3570-791: The Celebration Bowl , and the Peach Bowl . In its vicinity is State Farm Arena , the home of the Atlanta Hawks , the city's NBA team. It is located directly across Centennial Olympic Park Drive from the CNN Center. Just south of Interstate 20 are the Georgia State University baseball, basketball, and football stadiums—the latter built from the legacy of the defunct Centennial Olympic Stadium and Turner Field . The Tabernacle , located on Luckie Street,

3675-605: The Consulate-General of South Korea are located in Peachtree Center . The Consulate-General of the United Kingdom is located in the Georgia-Pacific Tower . Woodruff Park , named after Robert W. Woodruff , is a 6-acre (24,000 m ) park in Downtown located a block away from Five Points . The park is the location of the iconic Phoenix Memorial , which memorializes Atlanta's rise from

3780-621: The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta before it moved to its Midtown location in 2001. Downtown is home to most of the city's major sporting venues. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is home to the Atlanta Falcons , the city's NFL team, and Atlanta United FC , the city's MLS team. Mercedes-Benz Stadium also hosts major college football events, including the annual Aflac Kickoff Game , the SEC Championship Game ,

3885-527: The Georgia Railroad , suggested that Marthasville's name be changed. The first suggestion was "Atlantica-Pacifica", which was shortened to "Atlanta". In 1847, Atlanta was incorporated, with the town limits extending in a one-mile (1.6 km) radius from the mile marker at the railroad depot. By the outbreak of the Civil War, Atlanta was a major railroad hub and manufacturing center, making it

3990-616: The Golden Slam ; Donovan Bailey , who set a new world record of 9.84 for the men's 100 meters ; Lilia Podkopayeva , who became the second gymnast to win an individual event gold medal after winning the all-around title in the same Olympics; and the Magnificent Seven , who dramatically won the first ever U.S. gold medal in the Women's artistic gymnastics team all-around . The Games were marred by violence on July 27, 1996, when

4095-672: The International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Arranged for the first time in 1960 in Rome , Italy . The number of sports, initially only a few, is still growing. The first Special Olympics International Summer Games were held in Chicago , Illinois, in 1968. The most recent Special Olympics World Winter Games in Schladming, Austria involved 25 sports and approximately 2,277 athletes from 133 countries. At

4200-511: The Soviet Union . 10,339 athletes from 197 NOCs participated in the 1996 Summer Olympics. The 1996 Olympics were marred by the Centennial Olympic Park bombing , which occurred on July 27. Security guard Richard Jewell discovered the pipe bomb and immediately notified law enforcement, helping to evacuate as many people as possible from the area before it exploded. Although Jewell's quick actions are credited for saving many lives,

4305-640: The Women's World Games and Olympics of Grace were held to allow women to engage in sport on the international stage. Though short-lived, events such as these led to greater inclusion of women at multi-sport events over the course of the 20th century. Although the modern tradition commemorates the 1921 revolution , the Naadam festival in Mongolia is a continuation of ancient sporting practises amongst Mongolians. The three events of wrestling, horse racing and archery are thought to date back centuries and represent

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4410-892: The classical era : Other multi-sport festivals emerged in the Middle Ages in Europe, including the Cotswold Olimpick Games in England in the 1600s, the Highland Games in Scotland , and the Olympiade de la République in France in the 1800s. In the late 19th and early 20th century, athletes at multi-sport events were almost exclusively male. As international women's sport began to develop, events such as

4515-482: The closing ceremony , IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch said in his closing speech, "Well done, Atlanta" and simply called the Games "most exceptional." This broke precedent for Samaranch, who had traditionally labeled each Games "the best Olympics ever" at each closing ceremony, a practice he resumed at the subsequent Winter Games in Nagano in 1998 . A report prepared after the Games by European Olympic officials

4620-516: The 1970s resulted in significant development in Downtown, most notably in Peachtree Center and the Hotel District . Economic development in these areas shifted the commercial center of the city to an area along Peachtree Street that was north of Five Points , however, despite the construction of the MARTA central station there in 1975. By the mid-1980s, Peachtree Center had become the core of

4725-439: The 1992 Summer Games Afghanistan and Cambodia returned to send delegations to Atlanta. The 14 countries making their Olympic debut were: Azerbaijan , Burundi , Cape Verde , Comoros , Dominica , Guinea-Bissau , Macedonia , Nauru , Palestinian Authority , Saint Kitts and Nevis , Saint Lucia , São Tomé and Príncipe , Tajikistan and Turkmenistan . The ten countries making their Summer Olympic debut (after competing at

4830-542: The 19th century. Some of the most famous and/or tallest buildings in Downtown include: Downtown is divided into nine subdistricts: Downtown contains over 26 million square feet (2,400,000 m ) of office space; combined with Midtown as the central business district they make up over 48 million sq ft, more than the CBDs of Dallas , and Miami . Downtown's economy is also driven by its government facilities, venues, and retail options. The Federal government maintains

4935-461: The 200 m. Marie-José Pérec equaled Johnson's performance, although without a world record, by winning the rare 200 m/400 m double. Carl Lewis won his 4th long jump gold medal at the age of 35. In tennis, Andre Agassi won the gold medal, which would eventually make him the first man and second singles player overall (after his eventual wife, Steffi Graf ) to win the career Golden Slam , which consists of an Olympic gold medal and victories in

5040-468: The American Meter Company and electroplated by Erie Plating Company . Each torch weighed about 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg) and was made primarily of aluminum, with a Georgia pecan wood handle and gold ornamentation. The 1996 Summer Olympic program featured 271 events in 26 sports. Softball , beach volleyball and mountain biking debuted on the Olympic program, together with women's football , lightweight rowing , women's swimming , women's fencing , and

5145-419: The American youth and a typical Saturday college football game in the South, including the wave commonly produced by spectators in sporting events around the world. There was another showcase entitled "Summertime" which focused on Atlanta and the Old South , emphasizing its beauty, spirit, music, history, culture, and rebirth after the American Civil War . The ceremony also featured a memorable dance tribute to

5250-501: The Athens bid was described as "arrogant and poorly prepared," being regarded as "not being up to the task of coping with the modern and risk-prone extravaganza" of the current Games. Athens faced numerous obstacles, including "political instability, potential security problems, air pollution, traffic congestion and the fact that it would have to spend about US$ 3 billion to improve its infrastructure of airports, roads, rail lines and other amenities." Athens would later be selected to host

5355-490: The Athletes' Village, which distributed Nike-branded flags to visitors (presumably to be used at events). IOC marketing director Michael Payne expressed concern for the campaign, believing that athletes could perceive them as being an insult to their accomplishments. Payne and the United States Olympic Committee 's marketing director, John Krimsky, met with Howard Slusher, a subordinate of Nike co-founder Phil Knight . The meeting quickly turned aggressive, with Payne warning that

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5460-463: The Dream ", accompanied by Foster on the piano, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Centennial Choir (comprising Morehouse College Glee Club , Spelman College Glee Club and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus). Gladys Knight sang Georgia's official state song , " Georgia on My Mind ". There was a showcase entitled "Welcome To The World", featuring cheerleaders , Chevrolet pick-up trucks , marching bands , and steppers , which highlighted

5565-561: The Games were held in Atlanta. The 1996 Summer Olympics relied heavily on commercial sponsorship. The Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Company was the exclusive provider of soft drinks at Olympics venues, and built an attraction known as Coca-Cola Olympic City for the Games. As part of a sponsorship agreement with Columbia TriStar Television , the syndicated game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune both produced episodes with Olympics tie-ins (including branded memorabilia and contests) for broadcast between April and July 1996. These included

5670-464: The Games. Sehgal contrasted the 1996 Games' "grassroots" effort backed almost entirely by private funding, with the only significant public spending coming from infrastructure associated with the Games, to modern "top-down" bids, instigated by local governments and reliant on taxpayer funding, making them unpopular among citizens who may not necessarily be interested. The 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles will rely almost entirely on private funding, with

5775-405: The Georgia Dome, Centennial Olympic Park, the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel , the CNN Center, and the Georgia World Congress Center . It was the first time a tornado touched ground in Downtown since weather record keeping began in the 1880s. While there were dozens of injuries, there was only one fatality. Downtown contains some of the tallest buildings in Atlanta. The tallest building in Atlanta,

5880-447: The Hotel District, Centennial Hill, and South Downtown . The history of downtown began in 1826 with Wilson Lumpkin and Hamilton Fulton surveying a possible canal route between Chattanooga, Tennessee , and Milledgeville , Georgia's capital at the time. In 1833, Lumpkin, who had become governor, requested that the state legislature charter three railroad lines. By 1836, the state-financed Western and Atlantic Railroad , linking

5985-543: The IOC (which grants the rights to use Olympics-related terms and emblems in marketing). The Atlanta organizing committee threatened legal actions against advertisers whose marketing implied an official association with the Games. Several non-sponsors set up marketing activities in areas near venues, such as Samsung (competing with Motorola ), which ambushed the Games with its "96 Expo". The city of Atlanta had also licensed street vendors to sell products from competitors to Olympic sponsors. The most controversial ambush campaign

6090-484: The IOC could pull accreditation for Nike employees and ban the display of its logos on equipment; he also threatened to organize a press conference where silver medallists from the Games, as well as prominent Nike-sponsored athlete Michael Johnson (who attracted attention during the Games for wearing custom, gold-colored Nike shoes), would denounce the company. Faced with these threats, Nike agreed to retract most of its negative advertising and public relations stunts. At

6195-475: The IOC officials. Coca-Cola , a long-standing partner of the Olympics, was also a strong advocate to bring the Games to its hometown. The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) also proposed a substantial revenue-sharing with the IOC, USOC, and other NOCs. Atlanta's main rivals were Toronto, whose front-running bid that began in 1986 had chances to succeed after Canada had held a successful 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, and Melbourne, Australia, who hosted

6300-462: The Olympic swimming pool, the first American woman to win four titles in a single Olympiad. Penny Heyns , swimmer of South Africa, won the gold medals in both the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke events. Michelle Smith of Ireland won three gold medals and a bronze in swimming. She remains her nation's most decorated Olympian. However, her victories were overshadowed by doping allegations even though she did not test positive in 1996. She received

6405-402: The Olympic Games, organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) (est. 1894) for the first time in 1896 in Athens , Greece . After some celebrations (1900, 1904), the Olympics became very popular nowadays. The number of sports, initially only a few, is still growing. The Paralympic Games is the largest multi-sport event involving athletes with physical disabilities and is organized by

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6510-453: The Olympic Village, which became the first residential housing for Georgia State University (Georgia State Village), are now used by the Georgia Institute of Technology (North Avenue Apartments). As designed, the Centennial Olympic Stadium was converted into Turner Field after the Paralympics, which became the home of the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball team from 1997 to 2016. The Braves' former home, Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium ,

6615-408: The Olympic rings while the youth of Atlanta formed the number 100. Famed film score composer John Williams wrote the official overture for the 1996 Olympics, called " Summon the Heroes "; this was his second overture for Olympic games, the first being " Olympic Fanfare and Theme " written for the 1984 Summer Olympics . Céline Dion performed David Foster 's official 1996 Olympics song " The Power of

6720-418: The Southeast. The Olympiad's official theme, "Summon the Heroes", was written by John Williams , making it the third Olympiad at that point for which he had composed (official composer in 1984, NBC's coverage composer in 1988). The opening ceremony featured Céline Dion singing " The Power of the Dream ", the theme song of the 1996 Olympics. The closing ceremony featured Gloria Estefan singing " Reach ",

6825-508: The Summer Games since 1960 is $ 5.2 billion. Unlike Atlanta 1996, Beijing and Sochi were primarily funded by their respective governments. Events of the 1996 Games were held in a variety of areas. A number were held within the Olympic Ring, a 3 mi (4.8 km) circle from the center of Atlanta. Others were held at Stone Mountain , about 20 miles (32 km) outside of the city. To broaden ticket sales, other events, such as Association football (soccer), were staged in various cities in

6930-443: The Summer Olympics. It also marked the 100th anniversary of the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, the inaugural edition of the modern Olympic Games . These were also the first Summer Olympics to be held in a different year than the Winter Olympics since the Winter Olympics commenced in 1924, as part of a new IOC practice implemented in 1994 to hold the Summer and Winter Games in alternating, even-numbered years. The 1996 Games were

7035-584: The United States, it has recently undergone a transformation that includes the construction of new condos and lofts, renovation of historic buildings, and arrival of new residents and businesses. Downtown is bound by North Avenue to the north, Boulevard to the east, Interstate 20 to the south, and Northside Drive to the west. This definition includes central areas like Five Points , the Hotel District , and Fairlie-Poplar , and outer neighborhoods such as SoNo and Castleberry Hill . The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) organization, though, defines

7140-564: The airport, improvements in public transportation, and redevelopment of public housing projects. $ 420 million worth of tickets were sold, sale of sponsorship rights accounted for $ 540 million, and sale of the domestic broadcast rights to NBC accounted for $ 456 million. In total, the Games turned a profit of $ 19 million. The cost for Atlanta 1996 compares with costs of $ 4.6 billion for Rio 2016, $ 40–44 billion for Beijing 2008, and $ 51 billion for Sochi 2014 (the most expensive Olympics in history). The average cost for

7245-432: The area, particularly in the area clustered around Centennial Olympic Park. In June 2008, Atlanta was selected for the future home of the National Health Museum. It will be near Centennial Olympic Park where it is estimated to attract between 1.1 and 1.4 million visitors per year. Georgia State University , a four-year public research institution, has been a major force in Downtown's resurgence. Downtown has benefited from

7350-450: The ashes of the Civil War. Built as a legacy of the 1996 Olympic Games , Centennial Olympic Park , located on 21-acre (85,000 m ) area of Downtown, is the largest downtown park in the United States developed in the last 25 years. A famous part of the park is the Fountain of Rings, the world's largest interactive fountain utilizing the Olympic symbol of five interconnecting rings. The park hosts many events, such as music concerts and

7455-413: The athletes and to the goddesses of victory of the ancient Greek Olympics, using silhouette imagery. The accompanying music, "The Tradition of the Games", was composed by Basil Poledouris . Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic cauldron and later received a replacement gold medal for his boxing victory in the 1960 Summer Olympics . For the torch ceremony, more than 10,000 Olympic torches were manufactured by

7560-646: The beginning of the 20th century, another multi-sport event, the Nordic Games were first held. These Games were held in Scandinavia , and the sports conducted were winter sports such as cross-country skiing and speed skating . The Nordic Games were last held in 1926, after which the 1924 Winter Sports Week in Chamonix was declared the first Olympic Winter Games . In the 1920s, all kinds of other multi-sport events were set up. These were usually directed for

7665-647: The bombing killed spectator Alice Hawthorne, wounded 111 others, and caused the death of Melih Uzunyol by a heart attack. Jewell was later considered a suspect in the bombing but was never charged, and he was cleared in October 1996. Fugitive Eric Rudolph was arrested in May 2003 and charged with the Olympic Park bombing as well as the bombings of two abortion clinics and a gay nightclub . At his trial two years later, he confessed to all charges and afterwards released

7770-576: The city of Los Angeles and state of California each intending to provide up to $ 250 million in funding in the event of shortfalls, and the U.S. federal government providing funding solely for security. Multi-sport event The Ancient Olympic Games , first held in 776 BC, was the precursor to the Modern Olympic Games , although its first edition only featured a footrace and the number of sporting competitions expanded at later editions. There were several other "games" held in Europe in

7875-426: The city's three commercial districts ( Midtown and Buckhead being the others), it is the location of many corporate and regional headquarters; city , county , state , and federal government facilities; Georgia State University ; sporting venues; and most of Atlanta's tourist attractions. It measures approximately four square miles, and had 26,850 residents as of 2017. Similar to other central business districts in

7980-539: The construction of Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium and the relocation of the Braves from Milwaukee . The National Football League awarded the city the Falcons expansion team in 1966. The Hawks arrived in 1968, even though Omni Coliseum , the city's basketball arena, did not open until 1972. Two of the teams continue to play their home games downtown at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Philips Arena . Business growth in

8085-420: The display of advertising within venues, and that "you have to look to the private sector for at least a portion of the funding, and unless you're looking for handouts, you're dealing with people who are investing business assets, and they have to get a return." In 1997, Athens was awarded the 2004 Summer Olympics . Along with addressing the shortcomings of its 1996 bid, it was lauded for its efforts to promote

8190-598: The first Games for deaf athletes. The Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Games , incepted in 1948 in England, were the first Games for wheelchair athletes. In 1960, the first Paralympic Games were held, connected with the Olympic Games . The Special Olympics World Games , for athletes with intellectual disabilities, were first held in 1968. Downtown Atlanta Downtown Atlanta is the central business district of Atlanta , Georgia , United States. The largest of

8295-655: The first of the two consecutive Summer Olympics to be held in a predominantly English-speaking country , preceding the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. These were also the last Summer Olympics to be held in North America until 2028 , when Los Angeles will host the games for the third time. 10,318 athletes from 197 National Olympic Committees competed in 26 sports, including the Olympic debuts of beach volleyball , mountain biking and softball , as well as

8400-478: The first time since 1984 (and for the first time since 1968 in a non-boycotted Summer Olympics), also winning the most gold (44) and silver (32) medals out of all the participating nations. Notable performances during the competition included those of Andre Agassi , whose gold medal in these Games would be followed up with the French Open title in 1999, making him the first men's singles tennis player to complete

8505-540: The first women's team gold medal for the US. Shannon Miller won the gold medal on the balance beam event, the first time an American gymnast had won an individual gold medal in non-boycotted Olympic games. The Spanish team won the first gold medal in the new competition of women's rhythmic group all-around . The team was formed by Estela Giménez , Marta Baldó , Nuria Cabanillas , Lorena Guréndez , Estíbaliz Martínez and Tania Lamarca . Amy Van Dyken won four gold medals in

8610-531: The flurry of GSU-related construction and land acquisitions as the institution undergoes its transformation from a commuter school to a traditional university. In the early 2000s, under then-president Carl Patton, the university undertook the creation of a master plan that would make GSU "a part of the city, not apart from the city." The resulting $ 1 billion master plan has led to 14 new or renovated university buildings, including academic structures, student dormitories, dining halls, and sporting facilities. The result

8715-536: The former Olympic Stadium and surrounding lots, there has been proposals and growing calls to move the Olympic cauldron to Centennial Olympic Park . The Olympic cauldron was re-lit in February 2020 for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. The 1996 Olympics are the most recent edition of the Summer Olympics to be held in the United States. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Olympics , 32 years after

8820-562: The largest aquarium in the United States and in the Western Hemisphere, with more than 8 million US gallons (30,000 m ) of fresh and marine water. It is listed as one of the "1,000 Places to See Before You Die". The World of Coca-Cola , situated near the Georgia Aquarium at Pemberton Place , is a permanent exhibition to the history of Coca-Cola . Downtown is in the process of bringing new attractions to

8925-451: The middle of Georgia to the other states north and west, was granted a charter by the legislature, which was signed into law by Lumpkin. As a result, the town named Terminus was founded in 1837, named for the end of the railroad line. Terminus received a name change in 1842 when the town's 30 inhabitants voted to change the town's name to Marthasville, in honor of Governor Lumpkin's daughter. By 1845, John Edgar Thomson , chief engineer of

9030-497: The new disciplines of lightweight rowing , women's swimming 4 x 200 freestyle relay , women's fencing , team rhythmic gymnastics , and women's association football . A total of 24 countries made their Summer Olympic debuts in Atlanta, including 11 former Soviet republics participating for the first time as independent nations. With a total of 101 medals, the United States topped both the gold and overall medal count for

9135-558: The official theme song of the 1996 Olympics. The mascot for the Olympiad was an abstract, animated character named Izzy . In contrast to the standing tradition of mascots of national or regional significance in the city hosting the Olympiad, Izzy was an amorphous, fantasy figure. A video game featuring the Games' mascot, Izzy's Quest for the Olympic Rings , was also released. Atlanta's Olympic slogan "Come Celebrate Our Dream"

9240-503: The singles tournaments held at professional tennis' four major events ( Australian Open , French Open , Wimbledon , and US Open ). There were a series of national firsts realized during the Games. Deon Hemmings became the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal for Jamaica and the English-speaking West Indies . Lee Lai Shan won a gold medal in sailing, the only Olympic medal that Hong Kong ever won as

9345-564: The success of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles , the most recent Olympics in the United States. Additionally, former US ambassador to the UN and Atlanta mayor Andrew Young touted Atlanta's civil rights history and reputation for racial harmony. Young also wanted to showcase a reformed American South . The strong economy of Atlanta and improved race relations in the South helped to impress

9450-409: The three most important pursuits of a strong man in nomadic society. Alongside these sporting events there are other cultural activities such as dances and parades. Since the establishment of the Olympics, most serial multi-sport events have been organized for specific audiences and participating countries or communities. These affiliations include: The first modern multi-sport event organised were

9555-567: The time or during trade shows. Clustered around the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the CNN Center, the Georgia World Congress Center is a state-owned convention center. Opened in 1976, it was the first state owned and operated major convention center in the United States. As the fourth largest convention center in the United States and with 1.4 million square feet (130,000 m ) of space, more than

9660-517: The traditional values of the Olympic Games, which some IOC observers felt had been lost due to the over-commercialization of the 1996 Games. However, the 2004 Games heavily relied on public funding and eventually failed to make a profit, which some have claimed contributed to the financial crisis in Greece . The financial struggles faced by many later Games, such as the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and

9765-486: The world watched at least some of the events on television. Although marred by the tragedy of the Centennial Olympic Park bombing , the Games were a financial success, due in part to TV rights contracts and sponsorships at record levels. Atlanta also set a new record for the most tickets sold at a single Games (8.3 million), and held it until 2024. Beyond international recognition, the Games resulted in many modern infrastructure improvements. The mid-rise dormitories built for

9870-660: Was about 10,318. Twenty-four countries made their Olympic debut this year, including eleven of the ex-Soviet countries that competed as part of the Unified Team in 1992 . Russia participated in the Summer Olympics separately from the other countries of the former Soviet Union for the first time since 1912 (when it was the Russian Empire ). Russia had been a member of the Unified Team at the 1992 Summer Olympics together with 11 post-Soviet states. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia competed as Yugoslavia . After missing

9975-603: Was built and "designed and constructed to accommodate the rapidly expanding volume of the Postal Service , which was then oriented around a single, central processing facility." The Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center is the ninth largest federal building in the United States and the largest in the southeast. It "houses 5,000 employees for dozens of federal agencies and combines four distinct structural elements in central downtown, equaling 2 million square feet (190,000 m )." The Richard B. Russell Federal Building ,

10080-695: Was built as a physical memorial to the games in the former industrial area west of Five Points. In the following decade, Centennial Olympic Park spurred the creation of a Downtown tourist district anchored by the World of Coca-Cola , the Georgia Aquarium , the CNN Center , the Center for Civil and Human Rights , and the College Football Hall of Fame . Following the 1996 games, Georgia State University president Carl Patton, an urban planner, initiated

10185-634: Was considered by many observers the "natural choice" for the Centennial Games, due to its "divine right" in history. Athens bid chairman Spyros Metaxas gave repeated warnings to the IOC and demanded to give them the games to mark the centennial, saying "You don't hold a 100th birthday in someone else's home. The Centenary Games should be held in Athens." He also warned that "if we don't get the Olympics in 1996 we will never bid again to host them." However,

10290-473: Was critical of Atlanta's performance in several key areas, including the level of crowding in the Olympic Village, the quality of available food, the accessibility and convenience of transportation, and the Games' general atmosphere of commercialism. IOC vice-president Dick Pound responded to criticism of the commercialization of these Games, stating that they still adhered to a historic policy barring

10395-488: Was demolished in 1997 and the site became a parking lot for Turner Field; the Omni Coliseum was demolished the same year to make way for State Farm Arena . The city's permanent memorial to the 1996 Olympics is Centennial Olympic Park , which was built as a focal point for the Games. The park initiated a revitalization of the surrounding area and now serves as the hub for Atlanta's tourism district. In November 2016,

10500-760: Was established, such as the Far Eastern Championship Games (1913), the Central American and Caribbean Games (1926) or the Pan American Games (1951). The Olympic Games are still the largest multi-sport event in the world in terms of worldwide interest and importance (though no longer in participation), but several others also have significance. Other Games are intended for handicapped or disabled athletes. The International Silent Games , first held in Paris in 1924, were

10605-549: Was originally built and placed at the intersection of Fulton Street and Capitol Avenue, near the Centennial Olympic Stadium. After the Paralympics, in order to make room for the stadium conversion, the Olympic cauldron was moved (except its ramp, which was demolished) to the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Fulton Street in 1997, where it has stayed since. Since Georgia State University's acquisition of

10710-413: Was that this was the first Summer Olympics ever that not a single nation swept all three medals in a single event. These are the top ten nations that won medals at the 1996 Games.   *    Host nation ( United States ) A total of 197 nations, all of the then-existing and recognized National Olympic Committees, were represented at the 1996 Games, and the combined total of athletes

10815-460: Was then a flashback to the closing ceremony of the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona , showing the then president of the IOC , Juan Antonio Samaranch , inviting the athletes to compete in Atlanta in 1996. Then, spirits ascended in the northwest corner of the stadium, each representing one of the colors in the Olympic rings. The spirits called the tribes of the world which, after mixed percussion, formed

10920-468: Was undertaken by Nike, Inc. , which had begun an advertising campaign with aggressive slogans that mocked the Games' values, such as "Faster, Higher, Stronger, Badder", "If you're not here to win, you're a tourist", and "You don't win silver, you lose gold." The slogans were featured on magazine ads and billboards it purchased in Atlanta. Nike also opened a pop-up store known as the Nike Center near

11025-483: Was written by Jack Arogeti, a managing director at McCann-Erickson in Atlanta at the time. The slogan was selected from more than 5,000 submitted by the public to the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. Billy Payne noted that Jack "captured the spirit and our true motivation for the Olympic games." The city of Savannah, Georgia , host of the yachting events, held its own local festivities, including

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