Atlanta expands Olympic legacy with historic park partnership

ATLANTA — Three decades after Atlanta welcomed the world for the 1996 Olympic Games, Georgia State University is helping preserve and reimagine one of the city’s most enduring symbols of that historic moment.

Today, after several years of contemplation, the university announced a collaboration with Olympic Games leaders Billy Payne and former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young to relocate the top portion of the Olympic Flame, known as the Cauldron, to Centennial Olympic Park, strengthening the connection between Atlanta’s Olympic legacy and the communities that helped make it possible.

The initiative honors both the history of the Games and the remarkable transformation of Summerhill, the neighborhood that hosted Olympic Stadium and continues to serve as a gateway to downtown Atlanta. While the Olympic Cauldron will find a new home in Centennial Olympic Park, the tower and iconic Olympic rings bridge will remain in Summerhill as enduring landmarks that connect Atlanta’s past, present and future.

Since acquiring the former Turner Field site in 2017, Georgia State University has served as the anchor institution for one of Atlanta’s most significant urban redevelopment efforts. Building on the legacy of the 1996 Olympic Games, the university has helped attract investment to the area, transforming underutilized land into a vibrant mixed-use district that includes housing, retail, academic and athletic facilities. These investments have helped fuel Summerhill’s economic development while creating new opportunities for residents, businesses, students and visitors. Today, the neighborhood stands as a powerful example of how Atlanta continues to honor its history while investing in its future.

“Georgia State is honored to help preserve and advance Atlanta’s Olympic legacy,” said Georgia State President M. Brian Blake. “The story of the Olympic Flame Tower is also the story of Summerhill and Georgia State’s evolution. As we continue investing in this community, we are committed to celebrating the history that shaped Atlanta while creating new opportunities for students, residents and visitors. This project reflects both preservation and progress.”

The Olympic Flame Tower is a 120-foot monument erected in 1996 outside Olympic Stadium in Atlanta’s Summerhill neighborhood. Following the Games, the stadium became Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves, before being transformed into Center Parc Credit Union Stadium, home of Georgia State football.

The tower and its adjacent connecting bridge featuring the Olympic rings will remain proudly in place in Summerhill. They will continue to welcome residents, students, fans and visitors to the Summerhill neighborhood and Georgia State’s academic and athletic facilities.

The Olympic flame has long served as a source of inspiration for Georgia State, complementing the university’s enduring symbol of the ‘chalice of knowledge.’ Once the top piece is moved, the university will work to enhance the remaining structure to celebrate the deeply intertwined legacies of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Georgia State and the Summerhill community.

“This magnificent structure will continue to serve as a reminder of the important role that this part of Atlanta played in the execution and the memories of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games,” said Payne, chairman of Atlanta ‘96 Legacy. “The Summerhill neighborhood and now Georgia State will share in the legacy, which will act as an unofficial gateway to the neighborhood and Georgia State’s continued expansion. And we are very excited about the prominent location where the Olympic Cauldron will be displayed in Centennial Olympic Park, combining the elements of the most iconic moment of the Centennial Games with its greatest physical legacy.”

Through this effort, Georgia State, Atlanta ’96 Legacy, Centennial Olympic Park and the Summerhill community will work together to preserve one of Atlanta’s defining historical moments while continuing the progress that has transformed the neighborhood. The project reflects a shared commitment to honoring the city’s past, celebrating its Olympic heritage and investing in the future of one of Atlanta’s most historic communities.