Let the Games Begin!

“Centennial Olympic Park became the most visible iconic space of the games, a symbology that has continued to this day” (103).

The Book

The Olympic Games are more than two weeks of sport competition for the host city. They are an opportunity to imagine what the city could be, revitalize and create amenities, and welcome the world for the Games and in the future. In Atlanta’s Olympics Resurgence: How the 1996 Games Revived a Struggling City, Michael Dobbins, Leon S. Eplan, and Randal Roark explain this process for Atlanta and the 1996 Summer Olympics.

The process for becoming an Olympic host city is long and involved. First, city and civic leaders must convince the US Olympic Committee (USOC) that their city should be chosen as the US candidate for a particular Olympic Games. In the case of Atlanta, this began in 1986 and, in 1988, the USOC chose Atlanta. The next step is to persuade the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In February 1990, “five thick volumes of materials” were submitted to the IOC and, over the course of several months, Atlanta representatives hosted and visited numerous members of the IOC (41). The hard work paid off when the IOC voted 51-35 to choose Atlanta as the host of the 1996 Olympics, in September 1990.

Atlanta had six years to put in place plans to not only host a successful Olympics, but also revitalize a city in decline; the dual goals of Atlanta’s mayor. The Olympic Development Program focused on organizing the Games, addressing the city’s social needs, boosting the economy, and updating infrastructure. From here, authors Dobbin, Eplan, and Roark explore the public-private relationships and city planning that needed to address the mayor’s goals. A brief portion of the book is spent on the Olympics themselves, providing interesting facts (for example, it was the first Olympics to use the internet and have a website).

The authors conclude with a focus on the long-term impact and legacy of the Olympics on Atlanta. Since then, city policy continues to explore ways to revitalize the city, the improvements to public spaces and neighborhoods still put pedestrians first, and Centennial Olympic Park provides a variety of amenities for visitors and residents.

Atlanta’s Olympic Resurgence’s focus is on the before and after of the Olympics. Except for brief mentions, the actual weeks of competition are not included. The authors were all involved with the planning for the Olympics and have backgrounds in either city planning or architecture. This would be particularly interesting for people that are involved in city planning or project management; but it might get too detailed for others. The chapters are broken into short sections with clear headings, making it easy to read and follow. Black and white photos and charts are interspersed throughout the book. In some instances, it was not clear how the photo related to the narrative and the charts would have been better in color.

The Place

Centennial Olympic Park is a welcome change from the traffic and high-rise buildings of downtown Atlanta. More than a memorial to the 1996 Olympics, it provides visitors and residents a place to roam, sit, and play. There are several elements that commemorate the Olympics: the Fountain Rings, a large interactive fountain; the Spectacular, massive Olympic Rings; and five quilt sculptures that honor the legacy of those who participated in the Olympics—athletes, countries, and Atlantans whose vision brought the Games to their city.

The Park is open daily, 7am-10pm; and, a visitor information center is open daily, 9am-5pm. The website includes a map which can help visitors plan what they would like to see in the park. I was in Atlanta for a work conference and was able to walk around the park; it wasn’t too crowded, as I was there during the week. I can imagine the weekends are much busier, especially if events are occurring. Centennial Olympic Park is worth a visit while in Atlanta. It is a monument to the 1996 Olympics and a reminder of how a downtown can be revitalized.