In 1990 , the International Olympic Committee selected Atlanta as the site for the Centennial Olympic Games 1996 Summer Olympics . Following the announcement , Atlanta undertook several major construction projects to improve the city 's parks , sports facilities , and transportation , including the completion of long-contested Freedom Parkway . Former Mayor Bill Campbell allowed many " tent cities " to be built , creating a carnival atmosphere around the games . Atlanta became the third American city to host the Summer Olympics , after St. Louis ( 1904 Summer Olympics ) and Los Angeles ( 1932 and 1984 ) . The games themselves were notable in the realm of sporting events , but they were marred by numerous organizational inefficiencies . A dramatic event was the Centennial Olympic Park bombing , in which two people died , one from a heart attack , and several others were injured . Eric Robert Rudolph was later convicted of the bombing as an anti-government and pro-life protest
Centennial Olympic Park bombing
Centennial Olympic Park bombing
History of Atlanta