25th Anniversary of 1996 Olympics

Let's celebrate the 25th anniversary of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games! 

Atlanta beat out five other cities to win the bid to host the 1996 Centennial Summer Olympic Games from July 19 until August 4, 1996, while Savannah was selected to host the Olympic yachting events, which took place near Wilmington Island, in Wassaw Sound.

The DLG and its partners have created and aggregated content around Olympics-themed collections and items. Have a look below!

DIGITAL COLLECTIONS FEATURING THE 1996 ATLANTA OLYMPICS


Atlanta Journal-Constitution photographs of preparation for the 1996 Olympics games and the event itself 

(Courtesy of Georgia State University Libraries)


Carol Brown Papers, 1993-2012

Audiovisual items from the Carol Brown Papers, dating from 1993-2012 (bulk 1993-1994) that focus on pro- and anti- LGBTQ+ activities in traditionally conservative Cobb County, including the 1996 Olympics.

(Courtesy of Georgia State University Libraries)


Planning Atlanta

Photographs depicting planning, construction, and protests related to facility building for the 1996 Olympic games.

(Courtesy of Georgia State University Libraries)


Georgia Tech’s Preparations for the 1996 Olympic Games

Georgia Tech provided housing for the athletes, the Olympic Village and served as  the venue for swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, water polo, modern pentathlon, boxing, and Paralympic volleyball.

(Courtesy of Georgia Institute of Technology. Library. Archives, Records Management and Digital Curation Department)


Georgia Department of Transportation’s Preparations for the 1996 Games

(Courtesy of Georgia Government Publications)


LGBTQ Groups in the Atlanta Area protested Cobb County as a venue for the 1996 Games, from the Southern Voice Newspaper Collection.

(Courtesy of Atlanta History Center and Kennesaw State University Libraries)


Maynard Jackson Mayoral Papers

(Courtesy of Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library)


Olympics in Savannah

(Courtesy of City of Savannah Municipal Archives and Library)

Poster and postcard designed for the Georgia 8th Grade Social Studies Standards of Excellence module 

SS8H12:  Explain the importance of developments in Georgia since the late 20th century. 

c. Evaluate the short-term and long-term impacts of hosting the 1996 Olympics on Georgia’s economic and population growth.

Georgia-Based Athletes on TEAM USA

SPECIAL OLYMPICS GEORGIA