The festivities were marred by violence on July 27 , when Eric Rudolph detonated pipe bombs at Centennial Olympic Park — a downtown park that was built to serve as a public focal point for the Games ' festivities , injuring 111 . In 2003 , Rudolph confessed to the bombing and a series of related attacks on abortion centers and a gay bar , and was sentenced to life in prison . He claimed that the bombing was meant to protest the U.S. government 's sanctioning of " abortion on demand "
detonated pipe bombs
Centennial Olympic Park bombing
1996 Summer Olympics