The 1996 Olympics were marred by the Centennial Olympic Park bombing on July 27 . Security guard Richard Jewell discovered the pipe bomb and immediately notified law enforcement and helped evacuate as many people as possible from the area before it exploded . Although Jewell 's quick actions are credited for saving many lives , the bombing killed spectator Alice Hawthorne , wounded 111 others , and caused the death of Melih Uzunyol by heart attack . Jewell was later considered a suspect in the bombing but was never charged , and he was exonerated in October 1996 . In 2003 , Eric Robert Rudolph was charged with and confessed to this bombing as well as the bombings of two abortion clinics and a gay bar . He stated " the purpose of the attack on July 27th was to confound , anger and embarrass the Washington government in the eyes of the world for its abominable sanctioning of abortion on demand . " He was sentenced to a life sentence at ADX Florence prison in Florence , Colorado
Centennial Olympic Park bombing
Centennial Olympic Park bombing
1996 Summer Olympics