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

When people think of the Atlanta Summer Olympics, they’re usually talking about the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games—the event that reshaped downtown, added major sports venues, and left a lasting mark on how Atlanta looks and feels today.

If you live in Atlanta, are visiting, or are just trying to understand the city’s Olympic connection, there’s a lot you can still see, do, and learn related to those Games.

How Atlanta Landed the 1996 Summer Olympics

Atlanta wasn’t always an obvious Olympic host. In the late 1980s, the city pitched itself as a modern, fast-growing, transportation hub with:

• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport as a global gateway
• A growing skyline and convention infrastructure
• A reputation as the “capital of the New South”

The city ultimately won the bid to host the 1996 Summer Olympics, which were also the 100th anniversary of the modern Olympic Games. For Atlanta, the Olympics became a way to:

• Revitalize downtown
• Expand sports and entertainment venues
• Attract long-term tourism and investment

Today, you can still feel that impact walking around central Atlanta.

Key Olympic Sites in Atlanta You Can Visit

If you want to experience the Atlanta Summer Olympics legacy firsthand, these are the primary places to go.

Centennial Olympic Park

Location:
265 Park Ave W NW
Atlanta, GA 30313

Built as the central gathering space of the 1996 Games, Centennial Olympic Park is still the heart of Atlanta’s Olympic legacy.

What you’ll find today:

• Fountain of Rings – The iconic fountain shaped like the Olympic rings, with scheduled water shows. It’s one of the most recognizable Olympic symbols in Atlanta.
• Commemorative bricks and markers – Many bricks and plaques in the park reference the Games, sponsors, and participants.
• Event space – The park regularly hosts concerts, festivals, and outdoor events, continuing its role as a public gathering spot.

If you’re visiting downtown—especially the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, or the College Football Hall of Fame—you’ll likely pass through or near Centennial Olympic Park.

What to Know Before You Go

• The park is generally open daily and free to enter.
• It’s easy to reach via MARTA (Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station or Peachtree Center Station).
• Great spot for photos tied to Atlanta’s Olympic history.

Olympic Cauldron & Tower (“The Cauldron”)

Location: Near the intersection of Capitol Ave SE and Fulton St SE, close to Center Parc Stadium (formerly Turner Field).

The Olympic Cauldron, famously lit by Muhammad Ali during the Opening Ceremony, has been preserved near the former Olympic Stadium site.

What you can see:

• The tower and cauldron structure from the 1996 Games
• Views of what used to be Olympic Stadium, later Turner Field, now Center Parc Stadium (Georgia State University football)

This area is more of a quick-stop photo opportunity than a full attraction, but for Olympics fans, it’s a must-see.

Center Parc Stadium (Former Olympic Stadium / Turner Field)

Location:
755 Hank Aaron Dr SE
Atlanta, GA 30315

During the 1996 Games, Olympic Stadium hosted track and field events and the Olympic ceremonies. After the Games, it was converted into Turner Field for the Atlanta Braves, and later reconfigured again into Center Parc Stadium, now used by Georgia State University football.

If you’re curious about how Olympic venues get repurposed:

• You’ll see how the stadium has been reshaped over time.
• The surrounding area still has references and visual cues back to its Olympic roots.

Check Georgia State University Athletics schedules if you want to tour or attend an event there.

Georgia Tech and the Olympic Village Legacy

Main campus:
North Ave NW & Cherry St NW
Atlanta, GA 30332

Georgia Tech played a major role during the 1996 Olympics. Its campus served as part of the Olympic Village, housing athletes and officials. Many existing buildings and residence halls were upgraded or built with the Games in mind.

Today:

• Student housing and campus facilities reflect improvements made for the Olympics.
• The Georgia Tech Aquatic Center (now the McAuley Aquatic Center) hosted Olympic swimming and diving events and is still in use.

If you’re in Midtown, walking through Georgia Tech’s campus offers a quieter but meaningful glimpse into where athletes lived and trained in 1996.

Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC)

Address:
285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30313

The Georgia World Congress Center complex was heavily used during the Games for events, media operations, and logistics. Today:

• It remains one of the largest convention centers in the country.
• It sits adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, and Centennial Olympic Park.

If you attend a convention, major sports event, or concert here, you’re moving through one of the central operational hubs of the 1996 Olympics.

The 1996 Centennial Olympic Games: What Actually Happened in Atlanta

For residents and long-time visitors, the 1996 Olympics are part of local memory. For newer Atlantans, here’s the basic snapshot.

Dates and Scale

• Dates: July 19 – August 4, 1996
• Type: Summer Olympic Games (Centennial Games of the modern Olympics)
• Events: Dozens of sports spread out across Atlanta and other venues in Georgia and the Southeast

Atlanta hosted the main ceremonies and many competitions, while some sports were held in locations like Athens, Columbus, and other cities.

Major Moments People Remember

• Opening Ceremony: Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic Cauldron—one of the most iconic images in Olympic history.
• Downtown Atmosphere: Crowds, concerts, and cultural events centered around Centennial Olympic Park and surrounding venues.
• Sports Highlights: Track and field, gymnastics, and basketball were especially popular with local spectators.

Although some venues have been modified or repurposed, the way downtown Atlanta is laid out—especially around the park and GWCC—still reflects planning choices tied to the Olympics.

The Centennial Olympic Park Area Today: A Visitor-Friendly Hub

If you’re trying to experience the Atlanta Summer Olympics legacy in one walkable area, the Centennial Olympic Park district is your best bet.

Here’s how the core Olympic zone connects to today’s attractions:

You can easily explore this entire area on foot, with MARTA stations nearby and plenty of signage and markers that still reference the 1996 Games.

Practical Tips for Exploring Olympic History in Atlanta

If you want to plan an “Olympic-themed” day in Atlanta, here are some practical suggestions.

1. Start at Centennial Olympic Park

• Walk the paths and look for Olympic-related plaques and monuments.
• Check any posted information about Fountain of Rings show times.
• Use the park as your central hub to branch out to nearby attractions.

2. Walk Toward GWCC and the Stadiums

From the park, you can head toward:

• GWCC (Georgia World Congress Center)
• State Farm Arena
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Even if you’re not attending an event, the walk gives you a feel for the scale of the area that supported the Games.

3. Visit the Olympic Cauldron Area by Car or Rideshare

The Olympic Cauldron and tower near Center Parc Stadium are easiest to reach by:

• Driving and parking nearby
• Using rideshare services

Plan for a short visit—this is more of a photo and sightseeing stop than a full attraction.

4. Consider a Georgia Tech Campus Walk

If you’re already in Midtown:

• Explore Georgia Tech’s campus, where parts of the Olympic Village were located.
• Look for aquatic and athletic facilities that trace back to the Olympic era.

How the Olympics Changed Atlanta Long-Term

Understanding the Atlanta Summer Olympics also means understanding their lasting impact on the city.

Urban Development and Downtown Revitalization

Before the Olympics, much of downtown had fewer attractions and less public green space. The Games helped:

• Create Centennial Olympic Park, bringing a central green space to downtown.
• Encourage hotel, restaurant, and entertainment development around the park.
• Raise Atlanta’s profile as a major convention and sports city.

If you work downtown or visit the park area regularly, you’re experiencing a neighborhood heavily shaped by Olympic-era investment.

Sports and Events Culture

The 1996 Games strengthened Atlanta’s identity as:

• A host city for major sporting events (Super Bowls, Final Fours, championship games)
• A place with a cluster of top-tier arenas and stadiums within walking distance of each other

This legacy continues today with events at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, and GWCC, often centered near the same downtown core built up for the Olympics.

Frequently Asked Atlanta Olympic Questions

Was Atlanta the first U.S. city to host the Summer Olympics?
No. Cities like St. Louis and Los Angeles hosted earlier Summer Games. Atlanta was the host of the Centennial (100th anniversary) Games in 1996, which made its edition especially symbolic.

Are there still Olympic events held in Atlanta?
The official Olympic Games are not ongoing here, but some facilities that were built or upgraded for the Games still host college, professional, and youth sports events. The legacy lives on in how often the city hosts major competitions.

Is Centennial Olympic Park still active and safe to visit?
Centennial Olympic Park remains a public park and event space. As with any urban park, it’s wise to be aware of your surroundings, but it continues to be a central attraction for locals and tourists.

Can I see the Olympic flame burning anywhere in Atlanta?
The original Olympic Cauldron structure remains, but the flame is not kept perpetually lit. You can, however, visit the site and view the tower.

Key Takeaways for Atlanta Locals and Visitors

• The Atlanta Summer Olympics (1996) helped shape modern downtown Atlanta, especially around Centennial Olympic Park.
• You can still visit Olympic-related sites like the park, the Olympic Cauldron, parts of Georgia Tech, GWCC, and the former Olympic Stadium area.
• The Games cemented Atlanta’s role as a major sports and events hub, a legacy you can see in today’s venues and frequent large-scale events.

If you’re planning time in Atlanta and want to connect with the city’s Olympic past, start downtown at Centennial Olympic Park, then expand out to the cauldron and campus areas for a deeper look at how the 1996 Games left their mark on the city.