Relive the Dream: 20th Anniversary Celebration of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games


Five of the "Magnificent Seven" 1996 U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team
Shannon Miller, Jaycie Phelps, Amy Chow, Amanda Borden, Dominique Moceanu
 The Atlanta Games were one of the largest, 197 nations competed (a record at that time). Despite all the troubles that organizers faced these Olympics had some of the best stories ever.

The Games began so joyously with Muhammad Ali, the world's best-known sports figure, igniting the Olympic cauldron.

In track and field, Michael Johnson delivered on his much-anticipated, yet still startling, double in the 200 and 400 meters. Carl Lewis pulled out one last bit of magic to win the long jump for the ninth gold medal of his amazing Olympic career.

The U.S. women's gymnastics squad took the team gold after Kerri Strug hobbled up and completed her final gutsy vault in the Games' most compelling moment. Swimmer Amy Van Dyken became the first American woman to win four golds in a single Games.

On Saturday, July 17, in spite of a rain/lightening delay, Atlanta relived the dream with a star-studded 20th anniversary celebration of the 1996 Summer Olympics at Centennial Olympic Park. The event featured live entertainment, food trucks, fireworks and an Olympic volunteer reunion.

Elevating Atlanta to international status and recognition, the 1996 Summer Olympics united the world in friendship and peace—the festivities Saturday night  celebrated the glories of the Games, reunited the athletic heroes, volunteers, the organizing team and fans at the event’s greatest lasting legacy – 21-acre Centennial Olympic Park.

Highlights below:
 


A view of Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park from the 15th floor of the Omni Hotel.

Atlanta Games Paralympic Wheelchair racer LeAnn Shannon being interviewed.

Five-time Paralympian with four gold medals, swimmer and fencer Curtis Lovejoy.


Gold Medal-winning Paralympic Track and Field athlete and Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Inductee, Al Mead with President and CEO of the Atlanta Paralympic Games Andy Fleming.


Shepherd Center Chairman James Shepherd, Gold Medal-winning Paralympic Track and Field athlete and Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Inductee, Al Mead with President and CEO of the Atlanta Paralympic Games Andy Fleming.

Five-time Olympic medalist, considered the greatest female distance swimmer of all time, and penultimate Olympic torch runner, Janet Evans.

13-Time NBA All-Star, Three-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, 1992 Dream Team coach Lenny Wilkens.

Atlanta’s top gold medalist among all athletes, swimmer Amy Van Dyken. In 2014,
a near-fatal ATV accident left her paralyzed from waist down.

Ten-time Olympic medalist and Sports Illustrated’s Olympian of the Century,
 track and field star Carl Lewis.

CEO of the United States Olympic Committee Scott Blackmun.

Ten-time Olympic medalist and  Sports Illustrated’s Olympian of the Century,
 track and field star Carl Lewis with Ambassador Andrew Young.

Ambassador Andrew Young.

CEO of the United States Olympic Committee Scott Blackmun, Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) Chairman and CEO Billy Payne and Ten-time Olympic medalist and  Sports Illustrated’s Olympian of the Century, track and field star Carl Lewis.

Five-time Olympian with four gold medals and one bronze, one of Sports Illustrated’s “100 Greatest Female Athletes of the 20th Century”, basketball player Teresa Edwards.

6-Time NBA All-Star, Gold Medal-Winning 1996 Dream Team II basketball player Mitch Richmond.

Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) Chairman and CEO Billy Payne.

Chairman of the LA 2024 Candidature Committee Casey Wasserman.

Crowd at Centennial Olympic Park.


Having fun at Centennial Olympic Park.

Having fun at Centennial Olympic Park.

Having fun at Centennial Olympic Park.

Having fun at Centennial Olympic Park.

Having fun at Centennial Olympic Park.

Having fun at Centennial Olympic Park.

Having fun at Centennial Olympic Park.


Having fun at Centennial Olympic Park.

Having fun at Centennial Olympic Park.

Wife, girlfriend or Pokémon Go at Centennial Olympic Park.

Having fun at Centennial Olympic Park.

Having fun at Centennial Olympic Park.

Having fun at Centennial Olympic Park.

Wonder if she's playing Pokémon Go at Centennial Olympic Park.

Keeping the crowd safe at Centennial Olympic Park.

Having fun at Centennial Olympic Park.

Colby Dee at Centennial Olympic Park.

Monica Pearson sings our National Anthem.

Mayor and Mrs. Kasim Reed.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle.

Ambassador Andrew Young.


Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) Chairman and CEO Billy Payne.

Ambassador Andrew Young and Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) Chairman and CEO Billy Payne.


Ambassador Andrew Young and Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) Chairman and CEO Billy Payne.



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Bonnie Morét is an award-winning photographer recognized by The Georgia Council of the Arts as "an exceptional representation of contemporary Georgia art work." Her photography is featured on Georgia Public Broadcast's Georgia Traveler. Her exhibitions include Fifth Annual Exposure Awards at Musee du Louvre in Paris, France, Art Takes Miami at Scope Art during Art Basel Miami, Metro Montage XIII at the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art, World of Water at the Georgia Aquarium, Open Walls at Black Box Gallery in Portland, Oregon, Wholly Georgia: A Look at the Effects of Southern Religious Culture, sponsored by the Art History League and Georgia State University, at Mint Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia, 6x6 at the Rochester Contemporary Arts Center in Rochester, New York, @Phonography: Dialogue in the Wireless Age, at 3 Ring Circus in New Orleans, Louisiana, and About Lands and Lives of the Civil War at the 6th Cavalry Museum in Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia. Her photography appears in Modern Luxury/The Atlantan, Jezebel Magazine, and hangs in the executive offices at the Georgia State Capitol as part of the Art of Georgia exhibit. Corporate clients include Atlanta Ballet, Atlanta History Center, Chanel Cosmetics, Christian Dior Cosmetics, Sharp Mountain Vineyards, PM Realty Group, Granite Properties, Road Atlanta, Patrón Tequila, StubHub, CBM Records and The Washington Auto Show.