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Re:Post-Olympic Abandonment by StevePerkins on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @07:29AM (#13704971)
Atlanta has always felt snubbed by hostility from the IOC, who didn't like the level of private corporate sponsorship used to fund the 1996 Games (nevermind that two decades later, it would be considered modestly quaint today).

However, it was overwhelmingly a successful Games. It created a lasted economic boom, and much of the construction saw continued use or was repurposed afterward.

Today, Atlanta is not really remembered as a "bad" Olympics (because international sports organizatinos like the IOC and FIFA have become more disgustingly capitalistic than we ever were). We are likewise not really remembered as an "success" story either, frankly because most cultural commentary prefers not to think about southern American cities at all outside the context of sweeping generalizations about racism (1). But quietly, it was an example of a success story for the host city.

(1) Yeah, between the '96 Games and this year's Super Bowl, Atlanta sports fans are a pretty bitter crowd. Don't mind us!

Re:Post-Olympic Abandonment by SnacksOnAPlane on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @09:44AM (#13705817)
Damn straight.

The aquatic center is still in use at GA Tech. And Tech also got a lot of new housing from the Olympic Village, and a nice new student center.

The Olympic Stadium turned into Turner Field, which will now be a stadium for GA State University.

I believe the velodrome is still in use, although not totally sure about that.

Basically, Atlanta planned very well for the post-Olympic legacy. And I think we threw a pretty good Olympics, all in all. Yeah, there was lots of advertising, but because of it, the city didn't go into tremendous debt.

Plus our opening ceremonies were the world debut of wacky waving inflatable arms guy, so that's gotta count for something.

Re:Post-Olympic Abandonment by libria on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @10:48AM (#13706358)
Not to mention Centennial Olympic park is a venue for concerts and events.
Re:Post-Olympic Abandonment by echelon on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @11:21AM (#13706613)
Are you going to Shaky Knees? I'm always eager to meet other Atlanta-area engineers, especially if they have similar music tastes.
Re:Post-Olympic Abandonment by libria on Thursday February 23, 2017 @09:56AM (#13714297)
Apologies, I'm no longer in the Atlanta area. Maybe a local Meetup group perhaps?
Re:Post-Olympic Abandonment by hotgoldminer on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @11:19AM (#13706593)
The Velodrome is not still in use. There is an outdoor concrete Velodrome in East Point which is heavily used, but it was not an Olympic venue.
Re:Post-Olympic Abandonment by planteen on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @05:47PM (#13709998)
I lived for a couple years in housing that was built for the Olympics when I went to GT. It was a nice building.

I also used the aquatic center a couple times to practice kayaking. The coolest part about that pool was you could lower the floor.

Re:Post-Olympic Abandonment by johannes1234321 on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @08:51AM (#13705444)
I always remember the extra cheering the team of the country of Georgia received during the parade of nations. Some Georgians probably confused the state they are in with the country :-)

https://youtu.be/5Fmk2bS8OWk?t=350

Re:Post-Olympic Abandonment by jessaustin on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @08:41AM (#13705363)
For me the thing that comes to mind most readily is the FBI screwing up and accusing that one poor dude of setting that bomb...
Re:Post-Olympic Abandonment by echelon on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @11:19AM (#13706602)
They're supposedly making a film about Richard Jewell starring Jonah Hill. I'm not sure who else is attached. It might be in development hell at this point as the film was first announced several years ago.
Re:Post-Olympic Abandonment by lmm on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @08:32AM (#13705300)
It's remembered as a publicity stunt for Coca-Cola, no?