The 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta: What They Mean for the City Today

When people search for “1996 Olympic Games Atlanta,” they’re usually looking for more than just dates and medal counts. If you live in Atlanta, are visiting the city, or are trying to understand how the Olympics shaped this place, the 1996 Games are still all around you — in parks, sports venues, neighborhoods, and even the way the city thinks about tourism and transportation.

This guide walks through what happened in Atlanta during the 1996 Olympic Games, what’s left today, and where you can still see and experience the legacy of the Olympics around the city.

Quick Overview of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

The Centennial Olympic Games took place in Atlanta, Georgia, from July 19 to August 4, 1996. They were the 100th anniversary of the modern Olympic Games and brought international attention — and major change — to the city.

Key points:

• Host city: Atlanta, Georgia
• Main downtown hub: What is now Centennial Olympic Park
• Major venues: Centennial Olympic Stadium (later Turner Field), Georgia Tech, Georgia State, the Georgia World Congress Center, and other local campuses and arenas
• Long-term impact: New parks and sports facilities, expanded infrastructure, and a lasting tourism and cultural legacy

For Atlantans today, the Games are less about the competition results and more about how the Olympics reshaped downtown, transportation, and public spaces.

Centennial Olympic Park: The Heart of the Legacy

If you only visit one Olympic site in Atlanta, make it Centennial Olympic Park.

Centennial Olympic Park
265 Park Ave W NW
Atlanta, GA 30313

This 22-acre green space was built as the central gathering area for the Games and remains one of downtown Atlanta’s most recognizable landmarks.

What you’ll find at Centennial Olympic Park

• Fountain of Rings – The interactive fountain shaped like the Olympic rings is one of the most photographed spots in the city. Kids can play in the synchronized water jets, and light and music shows are held at scheduled times.
• Engraved Bricks – Many Atlantans purchased personalized bricks to support the park’s construction. Locals still come to find “their” brick or one from a relative or friend.
• Olympic Monuments and Art – Sculptures, plaques, and markers throughout the park highlight athletes, the 1996 torch relay, and significant moments from the Games.
• Open lawns and event spaces – The park regularly hosts festivals, concerts, and public events. If you’re visiting, check what’s scheduled during your stay.

For residents, the park functions as a daily-use urban green space — a place to walk, jog, eat lunch, or attend events — but every part of it is tied to the city’s Olympic story.

Key Atlanta Venues Used in the 1996 Games (and What They Are Today)

Many of Atlanta’s best-known sports and entertainment venues either trace their roots to the Olympics or were heavily upgraded because of them.

Here’s a simplified look at major 1996 Olympic venues and how you can experience them now:

Georgia Tech and the Olympic Village

The Georgia Institute of Technology campus in Midtown was a major Olympic hub:

• It hosted Olympic Village housing for athletes and officials.
• Facilities like the aquatic center and other sports complexes were upgraded to Olympic standards and remain in heavy use.

If you walk through Georgia Tech today, you’re moving through one of the core operational centers of the 1996 Games. Much of the housing developed then is now student housing.

How the 1996 Olympics Changed Downtown Atlanta

For Atlantans, the Olympics are often remembered as the moment the city reoriented itself around downtown as a visitor-friendly, walkable core.

Key changes that still shape daily life:

• Creation of Centennial Olympic Park – Before the Games, this area was largely parking lots and neglected spaces. The park became a central connector between attractions and helped anchor what is now a busy tourism district.
• Growth of the Convention and Entertainment District – The area around the Georgia World Congress Center, CNN Center, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, and the College Football Hall of Fame evolved from a scattered mix of offices and industrial uses into a concentrated events and attractions zone.
• Improved access to MARTA – While MARTA existed well before 1996, the Games pushed for better signage, coordination, and usage, especially around Five Points, Peachtree Center, and downtown stations. Many current transit patterns for events and large gatherings trace back to Olympic planning.
• Street and streetscape upgrades – Sidewalks, lighting, and streetscapes were upgraded in areas expected to see Olympic crowds. Some of that early work laid the groundwork for later projects like the Atlanta Streetcar and expanded bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

If you’re visiting today, the walk from Centennial Olympic Park to nearby attractions (like the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and Civil and Human Rights Museum) exists largely because the Olympics pushed Atlanta to knit these spaces together.

Centennial Olympic Stadium, Turner Field, and Georgia State’s Transformation

One of the biggest physical legacies is the former Centennial Olympic Stadium:

• Built specifically for the Games to host track and field and the opening and closing ceremonies
• After the Olympics, it was converted into Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves from 1997 to 2016
• When the Braves moved to Cobb County, Georgia State University took over the property and redeveloped it as Center Parc Stadium, mainly used for GSU football and other events

Georgia State’s stadium area today:

Georgia State University – Center Parc Stadium
755 Hank Aaron Dr SE
Atlanta, GA 30315

If you live or study in Atlanta, it’s an example of how Olympic infrastructure has been adapted multiple times to continue serving local needs — from global games, to Major League Baseball, to college athletics and neighborhood redevelopment.

The Centennial Olympic Park Area Today: What to See and Do

For someone in Atlanta who wants to experience the legacy of the 1996 Games in a single outing, spending a few hours around Centennial Olympic Park is the most direct option. Within walking distance:

• Centennial Olympic Park itself – Stroll the pathways, visit the Fountain of Rings, and look for Olympic plaques and markers.
• Georgia World Congress Center – Still used for major events and trade shows; the surrounding plazas were busy Olympic pedestrian routes.
• State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Not original Olympic venues, but both sit on and around land shaped by Olympic-era planning and the former Georgia Dome site.
• SkyView Atlanta – The ferris wheel overlooking Centennial Olympic Park gives you a bird’s-eye view of the ‘96 Games footprint and how the area has filled in with attractions and hotels since then.

For locals, this area is a reminder of how the city used the Olympics to rebrand itself as a global events and hospitality destination.

Remembering the Centennial Olympic Park Bombing

No discussion of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta is complete without acknowledging the Centennial Olympic Park bombing on July 27, 1996.

• A bomb exploded during a concert in the park, resulting in deaths and many injuries.
• The attack led to tightened security measures across the Games and influenced how Atlanta and other cities manage security for large public events.

If you visit Centennial Olympic Park today, you may see references to the event in historical material and local discussions about public safety at festivals and major gatherings.

For Atlantans, this part of the Olympic story is often remembered alongside the celebration, as a serious turning point in how big events are planned and protected.

How the 1996 Games Still Affect Life in Atlanta

Even decades later, the 1996 Olympics shape how Atlantans move through the city, attend events, and think about Atlanta’s place in the world.

1. Event Culture and “Big Game” Experience

Atlanta has become a frequent host for:

• Super Bowls
• College Football Playoff Championships and Peach Bowls
• Major basketball tournaments, soccer matches, and large conventions

The city’s experience handling massive Olympic crowds helped build the playbook for traffic plans, MARTA coordination, volunteer programs, and visitor services that are still used today.

2. Tourism and City Image

The Games put Atlanta on the map for many international travelers, and the city continues to lean on that visibility by:

• Promoting downtown attractions clustered around Centennial Olympic Park
• Highlighting the city’s role in modern sports, civil rights history, and culture

If you’re visiting, many of the hotel, dining, and entertainment options near the park exist because the Olympics showed there was demand for a dense tourism core.

3. Neighborhood and Campus Development

Areas around:

• Downtown and South Downtown
• Georgia State University
• Georgia Tech

have all changed significantly since 1996, often starting with Olympic investments in housing, roads, and facilities. Students and residents today may not always connect their neighborhoods to the Games, but much of the built environment has Olympic-era roots.

Tips for Exploring Atlanta’s 1996 Olympic History

Whether you’re a local planning a weekend outing or a visitor with a day downtown, here are simple ways to connect with the 1996 Games:

For a short visit (1–2 hours)

• Walk through Centennial Olympic Park
• Watch the Fountain of Rings show if timing allows
• Look for Olympic plaques, monuments, and engraved bricks
• Take a few photos with the park’s Olympic-themed features

For a half-day outing

• Start with Centennial Olympic Park and nearby attractions
• Walk past the Georgia World Congress Center campus and toward Mercedes-Benz Stadium to get a sense of the event district
• Ride MARTA between Peachtree Center or Dome/GWCC/State Farm Arena/College Football Hall of Fame station to see how transit ties the district together

For residents interested in deeper history

• Explore Georgia Tech’s campus (especially near their aquatic center and athletic complex) to see facilities modernized for the Olympics
• Drive or take MARTA toward Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium to understand how the former Olympic Stadium has evolved
• Use local library resources or Atlanta history centers to learn about planning debates, neighborhood changes, and community perspectives from the Olympic era

Where to Ask Questions or Learn More in Atlanta

If you want more detail about how the 1996 Games affected Atlanta’s planning, venues, and neighborhoods, consider:

• City of Atlanta – Department of City Planning
  55 Trinity Ave SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303

• Atlanta History Center
  130 W Paces Ferry Rd NW
  Atlanta, GA 30305

These institutions often maintain archives, exhibits, or staff familiar with the city’s Olympic history and its long-term effects.

For anyone in Atlanta, the 1996 Olympic Games are not just a past event — they’re built into the parks you visit, the stadiums you see on game day, and the way the city welcomes visitors. By exploring a few key spots, you can still feel that Olympic imprint on the Atlanta you live in or are exploring today.