In 1987, Billy Payne, a real estate attorney from Atlanta, Georgia, dared to dream the impossible -- that his city might be chosen to host the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Embarking upon an unrelenting quest to sell his concept to the world, he gathered a small but dedicated group of volunteers who shared a commitment to make his dream a reality.
Led by Payne, and then Atlanta Mayor, Andrew Young, the group, now officially the Atlanta Organizing Committee (AOC), focused on the five "A's" they felt made their city uniquely qualified to host the centennial celebration of the modern Olympic Games:
February 1989 marked the beginning of the final and most critical stage of the AOC's bid for the 1996 Olympic Games. The heart of Atlanta's strategy was the committee's intense and passionate courtship of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) - the supreme authority of the Olympic Movement. For 17 months, the AOC hosted local and international sporting competitions to demonstrate Atlanta's abilities in coordinated large-scale events. The AOC set a global tone by unveiling its Olympic theme: "Atlanta and the Olympic Games -- Yes! Partners with the World."
Much of the IOC was present for the AOC's Springtime in Atlanta in April of 1990. Members were taken on a memorable visit to Savannah, Georgia, one of the South's oldest and most beautiful cities, where the IOC motorcade was greeted by more than 1,000 schoolchildren along the picturesque squares of downtown Savannah. In Atlanta, 8,000 runners participated in the AOC's "Salute to Georgia Olympians" and "Run for the Rings." The AOC and the citizens of Georgia won the hearts and, even more important, the confidence of IOC members during this and similar visits to the metropolitan Atlanta area.
Today, it is estimated that $5.1 billion will pour into the Georgia economy over the 1991 to 1997 period as a result of the 1996 Olympic Games. More than two million people are expected to attend, making these Games the largest in Olympic history. With roughly 60 percent of the world's population watching via television, the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games are expected to launch Atlanta, the state of Georgia and the entire southeastern region of the U.S. to a leading position as an international destination for tourists and businesses.
Thousands of people all over the South have come together to prove that through hard work and a shared vision, anything can be accomplished. The spirit of the Olympic Games is alive in Atlanta, ensuring that these will be the best and most memorable Olympic Games ever.
WXIA: The International Olympic Committee awards the 1996 Olympic Games to
the City of Atlanta.
(10/4/95 2.1mb AVI)
| Closing Ceremony of the 1996 Games involved a crew of 2,100 who worked with more than 3,500 performers as well as thousands of athletes who celebrated on the field of Olympic Stadium. |