Centennial Olympic Park began with a bold idea…to create a gathering place for the world during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games and a lasting legacy for Atlanta. When the city was awarded the Games in 1990, leaders envisioned transforming a section of downtown into a space where visitors, athletes, and residents could come together to celebrate the Olympic spirit.
What began as a vision became a park that would welcome millions during the Games and continue serving Atlanta long after the Olympic flame was extinguished.
Before the games
Before the Olympic Games transformed downtown Atlanta, the area that would become Centennial Olympic Park was a patchwork of parking lots, warehouses, and underused spaces.
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A bold vision begins to transform downtown Atlanta.
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A bold vision begins to transform downtown Atlanta.
As Atlanta prepared to host the world in 1996, planners recognized the need for a central gathering place, something the city had never had before. The solution was an ambitious plan to create a new urban park that would serve as the heart of the Olympic experience.
Construction began in 1995, fueled by private donations and a commemorative brick program that allowed supporters from around the world to leave a permanent mark on the Park.
During the games
When the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games arrived, Centennial Olympic Park quickly became the center of the celebration.
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Centennial Olympic Park becomes the world’s gathering place.
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Centennial Olympic Park becomes the world’s gathering place.
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Centennial Olympic Park becomes the world’s gathering place.
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Centennial Olympic Park becomes the world’s gathering place.
Throughout the Games, the Park served as a gathering place for spectators, athletes, and visitors from around the globe. Entertainment stages, sponsor exhibits, concerts, and public celebrations filled the space each day, creating an atmosphere of excitement that reflected the energy of the Olympic Games themselves.
For two weeks in the summer of 1996, Centennial Olympic Park stood at the heart of the world’s attention.
After the Games
When the Olympic Games concluded, Centennial Olympic Park transitioned from a temporary Olympic gathering space into a permanent public park for the people of Atlanta.
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A lasting legacy of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
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A lasting legacy of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
The Park reopened in 1998 following renovations designed to support year-round use. Over time, it has grown into the centerpiece of downtown Atlanta’s tourism district, surrounded by world-class attractions, hosting events and celebrations, and welcoming millions of visitors each year.
Today, Centennial Olympic Park remains one of the most enduring legacies of the 1996 Olympic Games.
My dream for Centennial Olympic Park is that it will continue to serve as a beacon, calling the people of Atlanta, and all of our visitors and guests, to celebrate what we share in common.
All facilities on the Georgia World Congress Center Authority's campus are ADA compliant. GWCCA welcomes guests with disabilities and their assistive animals.
The designee of the Geo. L. Smith II Georgia World Congress Center Authority for service of process for civil actions brought against it is J. Pargen Robertson, Jr., Legal Counsel, 285 Andrew Young Intl. Blvd., NW, Atlanta, GA 30313-1591.
