Who Bombed the Atlanta Olympics? Understanding the 1996 Centennial Park Bombing

The question “Who bombed the Atlanta Olympics?” still comes up often, especially for people who live in Atlanta, visit downtown, or are exploring the city’s history. The answer is clear, but the story around it is complex and deeply tied to Atlanta’s identity.

This guide walks through who was responsible, what happened in Centennial Olympic Park, how the investigation unfolded, and what it means for Atlanta today.

The Short Answer: Who Bombed the 1996 Atlanta Olympics?

The Centennial Olympic Park bombing during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta was carried out by Eric Robert Rudolph.

• He planted a bomb in Centennial Olympic Park on July 27, 1996.
• The explosion killed two people (one directly from the bomb, another from a heart attack) and injured many others.
• Rudolph later confessed to the Atlanta bombing and several other bombings in the Southeast.
• He was arrested in 2003 and is serving multiple life sentences without parole at a federal supermax prison.

For many Atlantans, the bombing is remembered not just for the violence itself, but also for the initial misidentification of a security guard, the long investigation, and how the city moved forward afterward.

What Happened at Centennial Olympic Park in 1996?

The setting: Atlanta during the Olympics

In the summer of 1996, Atlanta hosted the Centennial Olympic Games.
Centennial Olympic Park, located in downtown Atlanta, was built as a central gathering place and live event space for visitors from around the world.

On the night of July 26–27, 1996:

• Thousands of people were in the park, enjoying concerts and Olympic celebrations.
• A homemade bomb was hidden in a backpack under a bench near a concert stage.
• A 911 call warned about the bomb, but the device exploded before the area could be fully cleared.

The bombing

• The bomb exploded in the early hours of July 27, 1996.
• One woman, Alice Hawthorne, was killed by the blast. Another man later died of a heart attack related to the incident.
• More than 100 people were injured to varying degrees.

Despite the tragedy, the Olympic Games continued, and Centennial Olympic Park eventually reopened, becoming a long-term public space in downtown Atlanta.

Who Was Eric Rudolph, and Why Did He Bomb Atlanta?

Eric Robert Rudolph was a U.S. extremist who carried out a series of bombings in the 1990s.

His role in the Atlanta Olympic bombing

• Rudolph admitted to building and planting the bomb at Centennial Olympic Park.
• In later statements and court documents, he claimed he targeted the Olympics to protest the U.S. government and certain social issues.
• His bombing in Atlanta was the first in a series of attacks he carried out, including bombings at an abortion clinic and a nightclub in the Southeast.

Arrest and sentencing

• After years on the run, Rudolph was arrested in Murphy, North Carolina in 2003.
• He eventually pleaded guilty to the Olympic Park bombing and other attacks.
• He received multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole, and is held in a federal maximum-security facility.

For people in Atlanta trying to understand “who did it,” there is no ongoing mystery:
Eric Robert Rudolph is the confirmed and convicted bomber of the Atlanta Olympics.

The Richard Jewell Misidentification: Why People Still Ask “Who Bombed the Olympics?”

Many Atlanta residents and visitors have also heard the name Richard Jewell in connection with the bombing. This is one reason the question “Who bombed the Atlanta Olympics?” still causes confusion.

Who was Richard Jewell?

Richard Jewell was a security guard working at Centennial Olympic Park the night of the bombing.

• He spotted a suspicious backpack under a bench.
• He helped move people away from the area and notified law enforcement.
• Many experts and observers later agreed that his quick actions likely saved lives.

How he was wrongly suspected

In the days after the bombing:

• Jewell was publicly identified as a person of interest, then widely portrayed as a suspect in the media.
• News coverage at the time often blurred the line between investigation and assumption, causing serious damage to his reputation.
• Eventually, authorities cleared him and acknowledged he was not responsible for the bombing.

Richard Jewell was never charged with the bombing and is now generally recognized as a person who tried to help, not harm, people in the park.

When you hear people in Atlanta bring up his name, it is often in the context of:

• Lessons about media responsibility,
• How quickly public opinion can shift, and
• The importance of careful, fact-based investigations.

Where Did the Bombing Happen? A Local View for Atlantans and Visitors

Centennial Olympic Park today

Centennial Olympic Park is still one of downtown Atlanta’s central public spaces. You’ll find it near:

• The Georgia World Congress Center
• State Farm Arena
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Georgia Aquarium
• World of Coca-Cola

It’s now a place where Atlantans and visitors walk, relax, and attend events, often without realizing its role in 1996 history.

While there is not a large, heavily promoted memorial to the bombing itself, the park stands as part of the larger legacy of the 1996 Games—both the celebration and the tragedy.

Timeline Summary: From Bombing to Conviction

Here’s a simple overview to keep the key facts straight:

For someone living in Atlanta or visiting:

• The who: Eric Robert Rudolph.
• The innocent person initially blamed: Richard Jewell.
• The location: Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta.

How the Bombing Shaped Security in Atlanta

Even though the bombing happened decades ago, it still influences how events and venues are managed in Atlanta today.

Event security in downtown Atlanta

For major events around Centennial Olympic Park, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, and the Georgia World Congress Center, you’ll often see:

• Security screenings (bag checks, metal detectors)
• Visible police and security presence
• Restricted items policies (limiting bag sizes, glass, or certain items)
• Emergency planning that considers crowd safety and evacuation routes

Local agencies often involved in planning and response include:

• Atlanta Police Department (APD)
  • Headquarters: 226 Peachtree St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
  • Non-emergency line: commonly listed by the city for general assistance
• Fulton County Sheriff’s Office
• Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS)

For residents, this means big gatherings may feel more controlled and structured—but that is partly a response to what happened in 1996.

If You Live in Atlanta or Visit the Park: What Should You Keep in Mind?

You don’t need to feel afraid to visit Centennial Olympic Park or attend major events in Atlanta. The bombing is a historic event, not a current threat. Still, many Atlantans take general safety and awareness seriously.

Here are practical tips that are commonly recommended at crowded public spaces:

• Stay aware of your surroundings. If something feels off, move away and notify security or police.
• Report suspicious objects. Unattended bags or containers in unusual places can be reported to on-site security.
• Follow event rules. Bag checks and metal detectors can feel inconvenient, but they are part of modern event security.

If you ever need to contact local authorities in an emergency anywhere in Atlanta:

• Dial 911 for immediate police, fire, or medical response.

For non-emergency questions or safety concerns near downtown attractions, you can also look for:

• On-site event security staff
• Uniformed Atlanta Police Department officers
• Venue guest services desks at major locations around Centennial Olympic Park

Why This History Still Matters in Atlanta

For Atlanta, the 1996 Olympics were a defining moment. The bombing at Centennial Olympic Park is part of that story—one that includes:

• A confirmed bomber: Eric Robert Rudolph
• A wrongly suspected hero: Richard Jewell
• A city that continued to host the Games and later grew into a major convention, sports, and tourism hub

Understanding who bombed the Atlanta Olympics helps make sense of:

• Why security feels the way it does around big events
• Why certain areas of downtown carry emotional weight for longtime residents
• How Atlanta has balanced remembrance with moving forward

If you live here, work downtown, or are visiting Centennial Olympic Park, you’re walking through a space that is both a site of global celebration and a place of hard-learned lessons from 1996.