Atlanta, GA and the Olympics: History, Legacy, and What to See Today

When people search for “Atlanta GA Olympics,” they’re usually looking for one of three things:

• Information about the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games
• What Olympic sites, museums, and parks they can still visit in Atlanta now
• How the Olympics shaped Atlanta’s growth, infrastructure, and identity

This guide walks through all three, with a practical focus on what matters today if you live in Atlanta, are planning a visit, or want to explore the city’s Olympic legacy.

Atlanta and the 1996 Olympic Games: A Quick Overview

Atlanta hosted the Centennial Olympic Games in the summer of 1996. For locals, it was a turning point that:

• Put Atlanta on the global map as a modern, international city
• Sparked major construction and revitalization, especially downtown
• Led to long-term changes in transportation, tourism, and development

Key facts:

• Type of Games: Summer Olympics
• Year: 1996
• Nickname: Centennial Olympic Games (100th anniversary of the modern Olympics)
• Primary Host City: Atlanta, Georgia
• Main Areas Used: Downtown Atlanta, Midtown, Buckhead, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, plus venues around metro Atlanta and the state

While the Games lasted only a few weeks, the physical and cultural legacy is still easy to see across the city.

Major Olympic Sites You Can Visit in Atlanta Today

If you’re in Atlanta and want to explore Olympic history, several places are still very accessible and visitor-friendly.

Centennial Olympic Park

Centennial Olympic Park is the heart of Atlanta’s Olympic legacy and one of the city’s most recognizable public spaces.

• Location: Downtown Atlanta
• Purpose: Built as the central gathering place and celebration zone for the 1996 Games
• Today: A public park, event space, and anchor for nearby attractions

Highlights inside the park:

• Fountain of Rings:
  The iconic ring-shaped fountain is one of the most photographed Olympic landmarks in Atlanta. It still hosts music-and-water shows on a regular schedule and doubles as a splash area on hot days.

• Olympic Rings & Sculptures:
  You’ll find Olympic rings, plaques, and monuments honoring athletes and the Games. Many visitors take photos here to mark their stop on Atlanta’s Olympic trail.

• Memorials and Commemorative Features:
  The park includes references to the 1996 bombing that occurred during the Games, acknowledging the lives lost while also emphasizing the city’s resilience.

Surrounding Centennial Olympic Park, you’re within walking distance of:

• Georgia World Congress Center
• State Farm Arena
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Georgia Aquarium
• World of Coca-Cola
• College Football Hall of Fame

For many residents, the park functions as both a daily green space and a reminder of how the Olympics reshaped downtown.

Olympic Stadium → Turner Field → Center Parc Stadium

The main Olympic stadium has gone through several transformations, but the site is still active.

Originally: Olympic Stadium (1996)

• Hosted opening and closing ceremonies
• Hosted track and field events
• Designed to be partially reconfigured after the Games

After the Olympics: Turner Field (1997–2016)

• Converted into a baseball park
• Became home to the Atlanta Braves for nearly two decades

Today: Center Parc Stadium (Georgia State Stadium)

• Now a football stadium for Georgia State University
• The area around the stadium is being redeveloped as part of Georgia State’s campus and nearby neighborhood improvements

If you visit, look for markers and plaques around the site that connect it back to its Olympic roots. Even though it functions differently now, it’s still a key part of Atlanta’s Olympic story.

Olympic Cauldrons, Torches, and Monuments Around the City

Pieces of Olympic history are scattered across Atlanta. Some are easy to find; others take a bit of hunting.

Commonly visited features include:

• The Olympic Cauldron / Torch Structure:
  Along the eastern edge of downtown, you can find a tower-like structure that held the Olympic flame. It’s a popular stop for photos, especially for those interested in sports history.

• Plaques and Markers Near Venues:
  Around the Georgia World Congress Center, Centennial Olympic Park, and other past venues, you’ll see plaques noting which events were held where.

• Athlete and Event Memorials:
  Several areas include dedications to athletes or to the Games in general, often integrated into plazas, walls, or walkways.

If you’re planning an Olympic-themed walking tour, pairing Centennial Olympic Park, nearby venues, and the cauldron/tower gives you a solid, compact route.

What Olympic Venues Became in Modern-Day Atlanta

Many facilities built or upgraded for the Olympics have been repurposed, not abandoned. This is one of the key reasons Atlanta is often cited as an example of long-term reuse of Olympic infrastructure.

Here’s a simple overview:

For locals, this means:

• You might attend a football game, concert, or convention on grounds originally built or renovated for the Olympics.
• Areas like Downtown, Midtown, and Westside carry layout patterns and infrastructure influenced by the 1996 plans.

How the Olympics Changed Atlanta

Understanding “Atlanta GA Olympics” isn’t just about the Games; it’s about how they reshaped the city.

Urban Development and Downtown Revitalization

Before the Olympics, parts of downtown were underused or overlooked. Preparation for the Games led to:

• Creation of Centennial Olympic Park and surrounding attractions
• Upgrades to streetscapes, lighting, and public spaces
• Investments in hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues

These changes helped transform downtown into a more visitor-friendly and event-focused area, which still benefits residents and tourists today.

Transportation and Infrastructure

The Games had a strong influence on Atlanta’s transportation planning:

• Improvements to roads and interchanges around the city
• Expansion and modernization of Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• Adjustments to MARTA rail and bus operations to manage Olympic crowds

If you use MARTA to get to major stadiums or downtown events today, you’re using corridors that were heavily shaped by Olympic-era planning.

Visiting Olympic-Related Sites: Practical Tips

If you’re planning to see the Olympic legacy while you’re in Atlanta, here are some practical ways to do it.

1. Build an Easy Half-Day Olympic Walk

A simple walkable loop in and around downtown might include:

1. Centennial Olympic Park
   • Stroll the paths, see the Fountain of Rings, and check out plaques and monuments.
2. Surrounding Attractions
   • Even if you don’t go inside, walking around the Georgia World Congress Center and nearby stadiums gives you a sense of the scale built and upgraded for major events.
3. Olympic Cauldron / Torch Structure Area
   • Drive or rideshare to see the torch tower and surrounding markers if you want a complete set of photo stops.

👍 Local tip: Check event schedules for Mercedes-Benz Stadium and surrounding venues. Big events can affect traffic, parking, and park access.

2. Combine Sports History With Other Atlanta Attractions

Because the main Olympic sites sit in the center of the city, it’s easy to:

• Visit Centennial Olympic Park in the morning
• Then walk to nearby museums or attractions (Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, etc.)
• End your day at a game or concert at a major stadium that stands where Olympic-related facilities once did

For residents, these same areas are common spots for:

• Festivals and public events
• Corporate and community gatherings
• Everyday recreation outdoors

For Atlanta Residents: Living With the Olympic Legacy

If you live in Atlanta, the 1996 Games still affect daily life in ways that may not be obvious at first glance.

Neighborhoods and Campus Areas

• Parts of the Georgia Tech campus and nearby neighborhoods incorporate buildings and housing used during the Olympics.
• Redevelopment around Georgia State University and the old stadium site continues to evolve, shaped by how the Olympics first transformed that area.

Ongoing Use of Venues

Many Olympic-related facilities have become:

• Homes for college sports teams
• Large-scale concert and event spaces
• Year-round convention and trade show centers

This means more:

• Jobs and business opportunities tied to events
• Tourism that supports hotels, restaurants, and services
• Occasional congestion in event-heavy zones, especially downtown and near stadiums

Learning More About Atlanta’s Olympic History

If you want to dive deeper into the “Atlanta GA Olympics” story while you’re in the city, consider:

• Walking tours and local history groups:
  Some tour operators and community organizations focus on Atlanta’s sports and civil history, often including Olympic sites.

• Local libraries and archives:
  Atlanta-area libraries and universities often keep photographs, programs, and documents related to the 1996 Games.

• Community events and anniversaries:
  On major anniversaries of the 1996 Olympics, Atlanta sometimes hosts commemorative events, panels, or exhibits that revisit the Games and their impact.

Exploring Atlanta, GA’s Olympic legacy gives you more than just sports trivia; it reveals how a global event permanently influenced the city’s layout, public spaces, and identity. Whether you’re visiting Centennial Olympic Park for an afternoon or living in a neighborhood shaped by Olympic development, the imprint of 1996 is still woven into daily life in Atlanta.