1996 Summer Olympics
summer olympics officially game xxvi olympiad also known atlanta commonly referred centennial olympic game international multisport event held july august atlanta georgia united state fourth summer olympics hosted united state making first country three different city host summer olympics also marked th anniversary summer olympics athens inaugural edition modern olympic game also first summer olympics held different year winter olympics since winter olympics commenced part new ioc practice implemented hold summer winter game alternating evennumbered year game first two consecutive summer olympics held predominantly englishspeaking country preceding summer olympics sydney australia also last summer olympics held north america los angeles host game third time athlete national olympic committee competed sport including olympic debut beach volleyball mountain biking softball well new discipline lightweight rowing womens swimming x freestyle relay womens fencing team rhythmic gymnastics womens association football total country made summer olympic debut atlanta including former soviet republic participating first time independent nation total medal united state topped gold overall medal count first time since first time since nonboycotted summer olympics also winning gold silver medal participating nation notable performance competition included andre agassi whose gold medal game would followed french open title making first men single tennis player complete golden slam donovan bailey set new world record men meter lilia podkopayeva became second gymnast win individual event gold medal winning allaround title olympics magnificent seven dramatically first ever u gold medal womens artistic gymnastics team allaround game marred violence july pipe bomb detonated centennial olympic park built serve public focal point festivity killing two injuring year later eric rudolph confessed bombing series related terrorist attack sentenced life prison nonetheless olympics turned profit helped record revenue sponsorship deal broadcast right reliance private funding among factor million ticket sold event olympics record broken criticism perceived overcommercialization game issue raised european official availability food transport event lasting impact city centennial olympic park led revitalization atlanta downtown area served symbol legacy game olympic village building since used residential housing area university centennial olympic stadium since redeveloped twice first turner field baseball stadium center parc american football stadium atlanta selected september tokyo japan athens belgrade manchester melbourne toronto th ioc session city entered competition dark horse stiff competition u medium also criticized atlanta secondtier city complained georgia confederate history however ioc evaluation commission ranked atlanta infrastructure facility highest ioc member said could guarantee large television revenue similar success summer olympics los angeles recent olympics united state additionally former u ambassador un atlanta mayor andrew young touted atlanta civil right history reputation racial harmony young also wanted showcase reformed american south strong economy atlanta improved race relation south helped impress ioc official cocacola longstanding partner olympics also strong advocate bring game hometown atlanta committee olympic game acog also proposed substantial revenuesharing ioc usoc noc atlanta main rival toronto whose frontrunning bid began chance succeed canada held successful winter olympics calgary melbourne australia hosted summer olympics brisbane australia failed bid game awarded barcelona prior sydney australia successful summer olympics bid would toronto fourth failed attempt since tried defeated rome tokyo montreal greece home ancient first modern olympics considered many observer natural choice centennial game due divine right history athens bid chairman spyros metaxas gave repeated warning ioc demanded give game mark centennial saying dont hold th birthday someone elses home centenary game held athens also warned dont get olympics never bid host however athens bid described arrogant poorly prepared regarded task coping modern riskprone extravaganza current game athens faced numerous obstacle including political instability potential security problem air pollution traffic congestion fact would spend u billion improve infrastructure airport road rail line amenity athens would later selected host summer olympics seven year later september total cost summer olympics estimated around u billion venue game funded entirely via private investment public funding came u government security around million public money used physical public infrastructure including streetscaping road improvement centennial olympic park alongside million private funding expansion airport improvement public transportation redevelopment public housing project million worth ticket sold sale sponsorship right accounted million sale domestic broadcast right nbc accounted million total game turned profit million cost atlanta compare cost billion rio – billion beijing billion sochi expensive olympics history average cost summer game since billion unlike atlanta beijing sochi primarily funded respective government event game held variety area number held within olympic ring mi km circle center atlanta others held stone mountain mile km outside city broaden ticket sale event association football soccer staged various city southeast alexander memorial coliseum – boxing atlanta–fulton county stadium – baseball centennial olympic stadium – openingclosing ceremony athletics clayton county international park jonesboro georgia – beach volleyball forbes arena – basketball georgia dome – basketball final gymnastics artistic handball men final georgia international horse park conyers georgia – cycling mountain equestrian modern pentathlon riding running georgia state university sport arena – badminton georgia tech aquatic center – diving modern pentathlon swimming swimming synchronized swimming water polo georgia world congress center – fencing handball judo modern pentathlon fencing shooting table tennis weightlifting wrestling golden park columbus georgia – softball herndon stadium – field hockey final lake lanier gainesville georgia – canoeing sprint rowing legion field birmingham alabama – football miami orange bowl miami florida – football omni coliseum – volleyball indoor final ocoee whitewater center polk county tennessee – canoeing slalom panther stadium – field hockey rfk stadium washington dc – football stone mountain tennis center stone mountain georgia – tennis stone mountain park archery center stone mountain georgia – archery stone mountain park velodrome stone mountain georgia – cycling track sanford stadium athens georgia university georgia – football final stegeman coliseum athens georgia university georgia – gymnastics rhythmic volleyball indoor wassaw sound savannah georgia – sailing wolf creek shooting complex – shooting olympiad official theme summon hero written john williams making third olympiad point composed official composer nbcs coverage composer opening ceremony featured céline dion singing power dream theme song olympics closing ceremony featured gloria estefan singing reach official theme song olympics mascot olympiad abstract animated character named izzy contrast standing tradition mascot national regional significance city hosting olympiad izzy amorphous fantasy figure video game featuring game mascot izzys quest olympic ring also released atlanta olympic slogan come celebrate dream written jack arogeti managing director mccannerickson atlanta time slogan selected submitted public atlanta convention visitor bureau billy payne noted jack captured spirit true motivation olympic game city savannah georgia host yachting event held local festivity including local cauldron lighting event first day game headlined performance country musician trisha yearwood africanamerican artist kevin cole commissioned create cocacola centennial olympic mural story mural took two year complete time eastern daylight time utc birmingham alabama us central daylight time utc ceremony began second countdown included footage previous olympic game twentytwo second flashback closing ceremony olympics barcelona showing president ioc juan antonio samaranch inviting athlete compete atlanta spirit ascended northwest corner stadium representing one color olympic ring spirit called tribe world mixed percussion formed olympic ring youth atlanta formed number famed film score composer john williams wrote official overture olympics called summon hero second overture olympic game first olympic fanfare theme written summer olympics céline dion performed david foster official olympics song power dream accompanied foster piano atlanta symphony orchestra centennial choir comprising morehouse college glee club spelman college glee club atlanta symphony orchestra chorus gladys knight sang georgia official state song georgia mind showcase entitled welcome world featuring cheerleader chevrolet pickup truck marching band stepper highlighted american youth typical saturday college football game south including wave commonly produced spectator sporting event around world another showcase entitled summertime focused atlanta old south emphasizing beauty spirit music history culture rebirth american civil war ceremony also featured memorable dance tribute athlete goddess victory ancient greek olympics using silhouette imagery accompanying music tradition game composed basil poledouris muhammad ali lit olympic cauldron later received replacement gold medal boxing victory summer olympics torch ceremony olympic torch manufactured american meter company electroplated erie plating company torch weighed pound kg made primarily aluminum georgia pecan wood handle gold ornamentation summer olympic program featured event sport softball beach volleyball mountain biking debuted olympic program together womens football lightweight rowing womens swimming womens fencing team rhythmic gymnastics event womens gymnastics ukrainian lilia podkopayeva became allaround olympic champion podkopayeva also second gold medal floor exercise final silver beam – becoming female gymnast since nadia comăneci win individual event gold winning allaround title olympics kerri strug united state womens gymnastics team vaulted injured ankle landed one foot winning first womens team gold medal u shannon miller gold medal balance beam event first time american gymnast individual gold medal nonboycotted olympic game spanish team first gold medal new competition womens rhythmic group allaround team formed estela giménez marta baldó nuria cabanillas lorena guréndez estíbaliz martínez tania lamarca amy van dyken four gold medal olympic swimming pool first american woman win four title single olympiad penny heyns swimmer south africa gold medal meter meter breaststroke event michelle smith ireland three gold medal bronze swimming remains nation decorated olympian however victory overshadowed doping allegation even though test positive received fouryear suspension tampering urine sample though medal record allowed stand track field donovan bailey canada men setting new world record second time also anchored team gold × relay michael johnson gold setting new world record second mariejosé pérec equaled johnson performance although without world record winning rare double carl lewis th long jump gold medal age tennis andre agassi gold medal would eventually make first man second single player overall eventual wife steffi graf win career golden slam consists olympic gold medal victory single tournament held professional tennis four major event australian open french open wimbledon u open series national first realized game deon hemmings became first woman win olympic gold medal jamaica englishspeaking west indie lee lai gold medal sailing olympic medal hong kong ever british colony – meant time colonial flag hong kong raised accompaniment british national anthem god save queen hong kongs sovereignty later transferred china u womens soccer team gold medal firstever womens football event first time olympic medal athlete armenia azerbaijan belarus burundi czech republic ecuador georgia hong kong kazakhstan moldova mozambique slovakia tonga ukraine uzbekistan another first atlanta first summer olympics ever single nation swept three medal single event top ten nation medal game host nation united state total nation thenexisting recognized national olympic committee represented game combined total athlete twentyfour country made olympic debut year including eleven exsoviet country competed part unified team russia participated summer olympics separately country former soviet union first time since russian empire russia member unified team summer olympics together postsoviet state federal republic yugoslavia competed yugoslavia missing summer game afghanistan cambodia returned send delegation atlanta country making olympic debut azerbaijan burundi cape verde comoros dominica guineabissau macedonia nauru palestinian authority saint kitts nevis saint lucia são tomé príncipe tajikistan turkmenistan ten country making summer olympic debut competing winter olympics lillehammer armenia belarus czech republic georgia kazakhstan kyrgyzstan moldova slovakia ukraine uzbekistan czech republic slovakia attended game independent nation first time since breakup czechoslovakia rest nation made summer olympic debut formerly part soviet union athlete noc participated summer olympics olympics marred centennial olympic park bombing occurred july security guard richard jewell discovered pipe bomb immediately notified law enforcement helping evacuate many people possible area exploded although jewells quick action credited saving many life bombing killed spectator alice hawthorne wounded others caused death melih uzunyol heart attack jewell later considered suspect bombing never charged cleared october fugitive eric rudolph arrested may charged olympic park bombing well bombing two abortion clinic gay nightclub trial two year later confessed charge afterwards released statement saying purpose attack july th confound anger embarrass washington government eye world abominable sanctioning abortion demand received four life sentence without parole served usp florence admax near florence colorado preparation olympics lasted seven year economic impact least u billion two million visitor came atlanta approximately billion people around world watched least event television although marred tragedy centennial olympic park bombing game financial success due part tv right contract sponsorship record level atlanta also set new record ticket sold single game million held beyond international recognition game resulted many modern infrastructure improvement midrise dormitory built olympic village became first residential housing georgia state university georgia state village used georgia institute technology north avenue apartment designed centennial olympic stadium converted turner field paralympics became home atlanta brave major league baseball team brave former home atlanta–fulton county stadium demolished site became parking lot turner field omni coliseum demolished year make way state farm arena city permanent memorial olympics centennial olympic park built focal point game park initiated revitalization surrounding area serf hub atlanta tourism district november commemorative plaque unveiled centennial olympic park honor th anniversary game following brave departure turner field truist park georgia state university acquired former olympic stadium surrounding parking lot reconfigured stadium second time center parc stadium college football team olympic cauldron originally built placed intersection fulton street capitol avenue near centennial olympic stadium paralympics order make room stadium conversion olympic cauldron moved except ramp demolished intersection capitol avenue fulton street stayed since since georgia state university acquisition former olympic stadium surrounding lot proposal growing call move olympic cauldron centennial olympic park olympic cauldron relit february u olympic marathon trial olympics recent edition summer olympics held united state los angeles host summer olympics year game held atlanta summer olympics relied heavily commercial sponsorship atlantabased cocacola company exclusive provider soft drink olympics venue built attraction known cocacola olympic city game part sponsorship agreement columbia tristar television syndicated game show jeopardy wheel fortune produced episode olympics tieins including branded memorabilia contest broadcast april july included jeopardy international tournament three week wheel fortune episode filmed onlocation atlanta fox theatre game affected several instance ambush marketing—in company attempt use game mean promote brand competition exclusive categorybased sponsorship right issued atlanta organizing committee ioc grant right use olympicsrelated term emblem marketing atlanta organizing committee threatened legal action advertiser whose marketing implied official association game several nonsponsors set marketing activity area near venue samsung competing motorola ambushed game expo city atlanta also licensed street vendor sell product competitor olympic sponsor controversial ambush campaign undertaken nike inc begun advertising campaign aggressive slogan mocked game value faster higher stronger badder youre win youre tourist dont win silver lose gold slogan featured magazine ad billboard purchased atlanta nike also opened popup store known nike center near athlete village distributed nikebranded flag visitor presumably used event ioc marketing director michael payne expressed concern campaign believing athlete could perceive insult accomplishment payne united state olympic committee marketing director john krimsky met howard slusher subordinate nike cofounder phil knight meeting quickly turned aggressive payne warning ioc could pull accreditation nike employee ban display logo equipment also threatened organize press conference silver medallist game well prominent nikesponsored athlete michael johnson attracted attention game wearing custom goldcolored nike shoe would denounce company faced threat nike agreed retract negative advertising public relation stunt closing ceremony ioc president juan antonio samaranch said closing speech well done atlanta simply called game exceptional broke precedent samaranch traditionally labeled game best olympics ever closing ceremony practice resumed subsequent winter game nagano report prepared game european olympic official critical atlanta performance several key area including level crowding olympic village quality available food accessibility convenience transportation game general atmosphere commercialism ioc vicepresident dick pound responded criticism commercialization game stating still adhered historic policy barring display advertising within venue look private sector least portion funding unless youre looking handout youre dealing people investing business asset get return athens awarded summer olympics along addressing shortcoming bid lauded effort promote traditional value olympic game ioc observer felt lost due overcommercialization game however game heavily relied public funding eventually failed make profit claimed contributed financial crisis greece financial struggle faced many later game winter olympics turin summer olympics rio de janeiro caused offer positive reappraisal management summer game former jpmorgan chase president torchbearer kabir sehgal noted contrast many later olympics financially viable positive economic impact city facility constructed continued used game sehgal contrasted game grassroots effort backed almost entirely private funding significant public spending coming infrastructure associated game modern topdown bid instigated local government reliant taxpayer funding making unpopular among citizen may necessarily interested summer olympics los angeles rely almost entirely private funding city los angeles state california intending provide million funding event shortfall u federal government providing funding solely security summer paralympics olympic game held united state summer olympics – st louis summer olympics – los angeles winter olympics – lake placid winter olympics – squaw valley winter olympics – lake placid summer olympics – los angeles summer olympics – atlanta winter olympics – salt lake city summer olympics – los angeles winter olympics – salt lake city list ioc country code use performanceenhancing drug olympic game – atlanta atlanta olympicscom international olympic committee official report centennial olympic game volume planning organizing digital archive la foundation los angeles official report centennial olympic game volume ii centennial olympic game digital archive la foundation los angeles official report centennial olympic game volume iii competition result digital archive la foundation los angeles program gpb atlanta olympic game fence neighborhood walter j brown medium archive peabody award collection university georgia american archive public broadcasting atlanta summer game th anniversary coverage atlanta journalconstitution collection olympicparalympic photograph collection georgia tech archive finding aid findingaidslibrarygatechedu archived original may