ACOG - Venues - IBM

Georgia International Horse Park

Conyers, GA

Thumbnail Thumbnail ACOG and the city of Conyers have developed the Georgia International Horse Park (GIHP) on a 1139-acre (461-hectare) site in Conyers, GA. The facility includes stables, 171,000 sq. ft. (15,885 m2) dressage and jumping areas, a track course, trails, a steeplechase oval and support/training facilities. The venue is also the site of the equestrian and running competitions in modern pentathlon. Additionally, an 11-12km course is being built on the site for mountain biking, a new discipline added to the Official Programme of the Centennial Olympic Games.

Seating Diagram - Georgia International Horse Park
Traffic Circulation Plans for Spectator Travel


Location:33 miles (53 km) east of downtown Atlanta.
ACOG Contribution:$20 million.
Venue Highlights:
  • The GIHP stables feature high ceilings with a clear-story roof top with ceiling fans permitting exceptional ventilation and cooler temperatures for the horse and participants.
  • Three islands have been constructed on the picturesque Grand Prix course that will enable numerous first-time television camera angles for the worldwide Olympic coverage.
  • At first glance, the fencing at GIHP appears to be the typical white-board variety, but look again! GIHP's fencing is all vinyl. The fencing is not only low maintenance, but contributes to the safety of both the riders and horses. The fencing is the result of a sponsorship secured by the city of Conyers.
  • Originally, all seating at GIHP for the Centennial Olympic Games was to be temporary, but 8,000 legacy seats (permanent seating to be used after the Olympic Games) have been made possible due to several sponsorship arrangements through the teamwork of ACOG and the city of Conyers.
  • A new system known as "Cool Concepts" will be used for the Olympic competition at GIHP to help cool the participants. Designed to lower ambient field temperatures up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (9 degrees Celsius), this system circulates moisture into the air, where it vaporizes, absorbing heat. The vapor is blown out of the environment with fans to create a cooler atmosphere for the athletes.
  • Three varieties of grasses have been used at GIHP, Fescue (shade), Bermuda (direct sun) and Zoysia (crossings).
Construction:Ground-breaking ceremony 15 June 1994, with completion in mid-1995
After The Games:The facility will be an ACOG gift to the city of Conyers after the 1996 Olympic Games with the equestrian venue being the centerpiece of a multi-use recreational and sports complex.
Seating Capacity:
  • Equestrian (29,700)
  • Modern Pentathlon (29,700)
  • Mountain Bike Racing (No Grandstand Seating)
Accessibility:
Olympic Events (Dates): Equestrian
(21 - 29 Jul;
31 Jul - 1 Aug;
3 - 4 Aug)
Modern Pentathlon
(30 Jul.)
Cycling - Mountain Bike
(30 Jul.)
Equestrian Olympic History:Showcased initially as a military sport, equestrian competition was one of the most compelling sports at the Ancient Games in 680 B.C., especially the careening frenzy of the chariot races. Seemingly, a natural choice for the Modern Games, only the long jump and high jump were staged in Paris in 1900, while the events contested today were added 12 years later.

The equestrian competitions include jumping, dressage and the three day event. In jumping, the horse and rider must navigate and jump a number of stadium obstacles, including the broad water. Dressage tests the skills of the horse and rider in performing a series of movements in absolute harmony. The three day event tests the horse and rider in competition including dressage, endurance and jumping. Equestrian competition is one of two Olympic sports where men and women compete head-to-head, yachting is the other.

Olympic Medal Events: 225 Olympic equestrian athletes will compete in six medal events at GIHP:
  • Dressage (Team and Individual)
  • Jumping (Team and Individual)
  • Three Day (Team and Individual)

Video WXIA: Marc Pickard show us the Grand Opening of the Georgia International Horse Park.
(8 Sep 1995 3.2mb AVI)

WeatherWeather - Georgia International Horse Park



Olympic Factoid
The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July).