The Centennial Olympic Olympics

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The Olympics are a sporting event that have become coveted by the best athletes around the globe. Thousands of people attempt to qualify each year and only the best of the best have a chance at becoming competitors. Choosing a venue for such a prestigious event is challenging. Major cities like Beijing and Los Angeles have held the games in the past. Cities place bids to see if they can snag a chance at hosting. In 1996, Atlanta was chosen to be the host city of the Summer Olympics. The largest physical reminder of the event is Centennial Olympic Park, located in the heart of downtown Atlanta. The park finished construction right before the Olympics began and was a spectacular improvement to the area. Beautifully paved and manicured, it was perfect for tourists and Atlanta residents alike to mingle and discuss the games. …show more content…

The park was attacked by a bomber barely a month after the official opening, killing two people and maiming over 100 others. Park staff discovered the bomb before it went off and managed to steer many people away from it, avoiding many casualties. This event lead to public outrage. Many people blamed the park staff outright for allowing the pipe bomb to get into the area at all. A massive spike in security followed in both the park and areas where Olympic events were being held. More than twenty years later, the park is still open. Many people enjoy strolling through the park on a nice, sunny day. Summers are an especially busy time for the park, hosting a few small music events. Parents can relax and chat while their children run amok in the fountain. Many exercise groups, especially yoga, take advantage of the lush grassy areas for an outdoor session. Street performers are often seen doing an array of activities while pop-up stands sell quirky trinkets, to the delight of the

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