1996 centennial olympic games

Was It A Dream or Did It Really Happen?
Written by Matthew Abner

It’s been almost 20 years since the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games took place. With the anniversary fast approaching, many people have failed to realize the significance of such an extravagant event which took place here, in the city of Atlanta. This was the same year legendary singer, Gladys Knight, sang at the opening of the ceremony where she made sure Georgia was on everybody’s mind! I was only 9 years old, but I remember it like it was yesterday. Others don’t know that the games were in existence in Atlanta, GA. This city was selected over Belgrade, Melbourne, Athens, Toronto, and Manchester in Tokyo, Japan on September 18, 1990. It has been determined that a total of 197 Nations participated with it being 10,320 Athletes; 6,797 being men and 3,523 being women. Let’s not forget that the 1960 gold medalist, Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic Cauldron during the opening ceremony at the Centennial Olympic Stadium. However, under unfortunate circumstances, it has been decided that the original Centennial Olympic Stadium, most recently known as Turner Field, will soon be closed down; the closing of the Georgia Dome will follow shortly, thereafter. Also, Turner Field will be no longer, being that the Braves’ lease will end with them in the near future. These changing developments have saddened many Atlantans due to the fact that it was built without taxpayer money which was one of the better outcomes of the Olympic Games. What should be done about it???
During the 1996 Olympic Games, memorable moments were witnessed due to the excellence and executions of each performance done by many greats. Among these greats, U.S. sprinter, Michael Johnson broke two world records by winning gold medals for the men’s 200 and 400 meters. He is the only male athlete in history to win both the 200 and 400 meters in the same Olympics. Who could forget those gold shoes??? This is the same where another U.S. sprinter, Gail Devers won the women’s 100 meters finals with a photo finish. Also, on the women’s side, Kerri Strug, whose part of the famous Magnificent Seven, won the team’s gold medal in gymnastics while landing on one leg after a vault performance due to an injury. This was the first gold medal won for the U.S. women’s gymnastics team. Additionally, Amy Van Dyken was the winner of four gold medals in the Olympic swimming pool. She was the first American woman ever to win this number of titles in a single Olympiad. Was this a dream??? No, this actually happened here in Atlanta!
The Atlanta Braves are abandoning Turner Field, formerly known as the Olympic Stadium. Following its abandonment, there is a possibility of the Stadium being demolished in 2016 or 2017 for unknown redevelopment. As a positive outcome, there should be plans to build establishments based on our historical 1996 Olympic Games where many of the world’s best athletes competed. The new development should include a museum with interactive games, Olympic memorabilia, Olympic trivia, and videos which captured the athletes who performed what we remember as one of the best Olympic Games yet. There should also be a mini track, vaults, uneven bars, and other adventurous activities that children can utilize to mimic great performers such as Michael Johnson, Kerri Strug, and Gail Devers.
Although there was a dark cloud over the Olympic Games where terrorist, Eric Rudolph bombed the Centennial Olympic Park, killing two and wounding many others, the Centennial Olympic Games was still one of the greater memories of my childhood. I am currently an Atlanta, GA native formerly of Birmingham, AL where I remember standing outside for hours witnessing the Olympic torch change hands. The city of Atlanta was forever changed because of the Olympics. Next summer, on July 19, 2016 will mark the 20th anniversary. In the upcoming November 2016 elections, I recommend that the city of Atlanta should vote to use Turner Field open land as a tribute museum for the 1996 Olympic Games. The new generation of youth has no idea about the spectacular events that took place here in Atlanta. So was it a dream, or did this really happen? It actually happened!!! Let’s get together and make this vision come to life. I have started an online petition in efforts to move this project forward.