Atlanta snubbed in Olympics telecast?
Observant viewers of Friday evening’s Opening Ceremony telecast noticed something missing in a tribute to past games: Atlanta.
The apparent snub occurred during a film which kicked off the quirky, four-hour extravaganza, produced by British director Danny Boyle of “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Trainspotting” fame. So far there’s been no official explanation as to why a montage featuring the logos of previous Olympics didn’t include Atlanta.
ESPN notes that a famous Atlantan also was slighted during the telecast: “An entire tribute to the history of British pop music, right down to an East London rapper, and no mention of Elton John? Maybe he’s been disowned because he lives in Atlanta now?”
And who could forget the snub by then-International Olympic Committee czar Juan Antonio Samaranch, who declared Atlanta’s 1996 effort “most exceptional” during that year’s Closing Ceremony? At previous games Samaranch, a former top official under Spain’s fascist dictator Francisco Franco, had congratulated the host city for holding the “best Olympics ever. “
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
229 comments Add your comment
deegee
July 29th, 2012
10:19 am
The only thing tackier than Atlanta during the Olympics is that red and gold cauldron that sits on I-85 next to the Varsity. Like someone is going to go out of their way to climb the cauldron steps so that they can look out over the parking lot of the Varsity. And who can forget the Keystone Cops’ investigation that took place after the Olympic Park bombing? May God rest poor old Richard Jewell’s soul in peace. I went to the Peach Drop downtown on New Years Eve a few times. Atlanta does such a hideous job of crowd control that I vowed I would never go back after being nearly crushed in a mob heading to the Five Points station. Atlanta is a cow town with some skyscrapers.
Herman404
July 29th, 2012
10:21 am
I lived in Atlanta from 1992-2003 and I live in London now. As someone fortunate enough to attend both the opening ceremony in 1996 and 2012, I can mention that both had a lot in common. Both ceremonies had drumbeat music in their opening segments, both had both their tounge in cheek, self-deprecating senses of humour (Pick up trucks in ATL, Mr. Bean in LDN), both had Muhammad Ali. Finally, I can say that both were once in a lifetime experiences.
And regarding the whiners – everywhere in the world, whiners are a small but vocal minority. Ever seen the negativity in the current BBC News Olympic related webpage comments from the same people over and over again?
I will say that I wish London had done the same thing ATL did and included a pack taped to each seat with pins and programs.. In London we had to buy all this stuff! I know the cost of living is higher here, but still…
bitman
July 29th, 2012
10:21 am
So far, I think the Brits deserve the gold for “most boring Olympics”…
Ronnie Fowler
July 29th, 2012
10:21 am
Obvious,
You are absolutely correct.
I agree that the IOC had to listen to garbage like V-103 and be accosted by Atlanta’s world-INfamous, uncivilized, jive-talking, jaywalking, chicken-eating, outside-voice-using, booty-shaking, aggressive panhandlers while they were here for the “Games” in 1996.
No wonder they were in a hurry to leave and not look back.
lola
July 29th, 2012
10:25 am
Someone delete this article, and get back to the news.
GetRight
July 29th, 2012
10:26 am
The ATL games were marred by ingrown racism..I had just moved here in 96 in Roswell and the City was touting their own Olympic village party and encouraging folks not to go to “Atlanta” where “those people” are Marietta had the same thing. What Georgia did not realize when you host the Olympics the world comes to your door steps..Such idiocy and close mindedness.. I remember telling one of the town folk Hitler hosted the Olympics and the people and the small villages welcomed the Blacks and Jews better than than the US was treating them at the time ..as a white male I was sadden .. but its the south some things just wont die
EboniLadi
July 29th, 2012
10:30 am
The Atlanta open ending ceremony sucked! The drawn out pick up trucks honoring the auto industry was so red-neck and did not represent the country, just the backwards, stuck in time south. The opportunity was there to parade vintage cars but they chose pickups! Plus the region was not prepared for the crowds! What’s left are venues that are falling apart and not maintained. A waste. As a prior commenter noted, it was about cronyism and money!
Bud
July 29th, 2012
10:34 am
I love reading the comments about ” Yankee carpet baggers” ,,Yankee this and Yankee that! If you commented negatively about Boston or New York in their papers you would never see a comment like “Johnny Reb go home “.
Atlanta had all the ingredients to be a world class city in the 70″s and 80″s. I lived here in the 70’s and loved it. I moved back in 1995 and was shocked by what the city had become.
Marta could have been a blessing to this city ,but instead it became a curse to some of the areas where it was built. It was not built where it would alleviate traffic congestion ,albeit because of local politics and fears. Were the fears real ? Ask the retailers at Lenox. Marta is so poorly manged it does nothing to enhance the image of Atlanta. Go visit Marta headquarters and talk to their senior managers and you will understand what I say.
This has nothing to do with North vs South .It has to do with corrupt officials,and yes we are a racist city. As others have mentioned racism is just as deep seated in the North ,Midwest ,West and internationally and it is here .A shame,but it is true.
The Olympics opened up the world to Atlanta and what did we become ? The melting pot for hip hop ,baggy pants and my favorite welcoming sign on 75 “welcome to Atlanta home of SoSo Def records”. Wow! Yes this will become Detroit 2.Not because of the color of Atlanta but because of how corrupt and inefficient the city of Atlanta has become.
Of course the “good old boys” in the state legislature will do all they can to embarrass the city ,and rightfully so the way it is run and managed. But the “good old boys” need to understand people do not come to Georgia to go to Plains to see a peanut farm.
Atlanta has decent weather,and good housing. But what else? When we try and think what to do with visitors, these are our choices, Braves , shopping,Centennial Olympic park “ugh”, World of Coke, The Aquarium ,Stone Mtn,shopping ,Cyclorama,shopping ! There really is not that much to do in Atlanta so why do we continue to think this is a world class city ?The Olympics were Silver Pickup Trucks ,a bombing and a third world village downtown.
I like Atlanta but we continue to blow opportunity after opportunity. TSPLOST will fail because Marta has such a black eye in the community . I can’t blame people who don’t want to see a lot of money given to them . As I said earlier ,go visit their “senior” executives and look at the racial make up of MARTA. Talk about racist ! It reminds me of what the Piedmont Driving Club was probably like in the 60″s or actually what it still probably is. Admittance has more to do with the color of your skin than the color of your brain matter and what you can offer.
Please Atlanta and Georgia wake up before it is too late.
scott
July 29th, 2012
10:37 am
as a middle age white male here… the racism in Atlanta is too wide and too deep..very deep and shows no sign of nonexistence..its the reason why everything here turns into a problem the olympics,etc..you should hear some of the comments about “them”(blacks) at my country club i have turned red numerous times as i was absolutly appalled…i ask one of the fella,s i thought this was the new south??he replied not as long as they exist..is this the 1940,s in this backwater with skyscrapers..we will be outta here once we retire
Motocross Survivor
July 29th, 2012
10:39 am
Scottie, son, do you show such ignorance as a general rule or is today a special day? The most segregated cites in America are in the North, with Chicago always very high on the list, if not at the top spot. It always amuses me to hear poorly informed yankees say things like you claimed. And you consider the “big boys” Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto and such? I’ve been to all of them including SF and you consider them “big boys” compared to ATL? I could go into detail, but I’ve probably already lost you son. Atlanta does pretty well despite the large numbers of inept and corrupt African Americans bilking the place for all it’s worth.
Rebecca
July 29th, 2012
10:48 am
I noticed this right off…and they also didn’t include the 1984 Los Angeles game in that montage. Weird.
Ronnie Fowler
July 29th, 2012
10:49 am
Statistically speaking, prior to 1863, why do you think so few liquor stores here in Atlanta and the Southeast ever got robbed?
CC
July 29th, 2012
10:57 am
Maybe if the NBC broadcast showed the real opening with the English commentary and not the crappy American commentary – it was a disgrace to America when your commentators ruined a great opening!!
Road Scholar
July 29th, 2012
11:05 am
Yes I remember the Olympics and anyone could always do better. But as my mom used to say…do your best, forget the rest. What more could you do at the time? In hindsight, yes improvements could have been made. Just like this blog. Why can’t some be proud of our city? Don’t like it..one word……MOVE… remember, Delta is ready when you are!!! Or are you like Romney? When visiting, say something positive; you never insult the host!
Really?
July 29th, 2012
11:07 am
Maybe everything just isn’t about your little world. Goodness, grow up already.
Mike Lum
July 29th, 2012
11:08 am
Of all the columns on AJC.com, this one operates mostly on hearsay and rarely on facts. Perhaps the miss had to do with NBC’s broadcast. Elton John is not a full-time Atlanta resident: he has several other homes where he spends time (including England?). And what did Samaranch’s snub have to do with the London Olympics? Nothing. As usual, a terrible column.
Me By Jammin'
July 29th, 2012
11:08 am
I’m sure the snub had nothing to do with the ‘wave of slavery’, monster trucks, or the park bombing….
Brad
July 29th, 2012
11:10 am
Atlanta is a joke people. Look at where the Olympics were held. Turner Field is in the projects. There is 1 bar/restaurant within a square mile of the place. The people planning and running this place have always been and always will be a joke. If you want it done right put it in the suburbs.
Steve
July 29th, 2012
11:12 am
Be thankful that they didn’t mention Atlanta. The games here were a joke, from the mascot, thru the opening ceremonies, to the widespread venue. Atlanta should have never won the bid.
Quite frankly, a whole bunch of tax money went to the Olympics that could and should have been spent at better places. Sure, a few entrepreneurs and some big hotel chains probably made a killing, but the reality is that about the only thing the common person got out of the Olympics was a college housing area and a tiny park.
Was that really worth all the money spent?
Sarah Tonin
July 29th, 2012
11:12 am
Atlanta had it’s chance but it was, in large part, squandered by Bill (later convicted of racketeering) Campbell and others. It was not surprising to me that the ATL was left out. The sad thing is, it is hurtful to the scores of volunteers who busted their butts in spite of the corruption to make Atlanta’s games “the best ever.” Their efforts were unfortunately overshadowed by the greed and moral bankruptcy of a few bottom feeders. Will there be another chance in the future? No way.
native atlantan
July 29th, 2012
11:22 am
Racism is alive and well in Atlanta. btw, 2 things I cant stand, bigots and n%&&$@s.
abc133
July 29th, 2012
11:25 am
@Native – Your people have been freed. There is nothing stopping you from going back to your native country if you think you’d like it better there. Oh, that’s right, African Blacks do not like American Blacks… guess you’re stuck here.
around the world
July 29th, 2012
11:29 am
Atlanta -A WORLD CLASS CITY ?????? LOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOOLL
OH stop it LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOL World class??? LOLOLOLOLOLOLL
nuff said
July 29th, 2012
11:34 am
Tennis venue –abandoned trying to raze it
Veledrome -cycling-packed up shipped away instead of becoming one of the only veledromes in the country
shooting venue -closed /razed
track and field-sold to the braves razed and redone
archery -a plaque in an empty overgrown field
could go on but that tells you all you need to know about Atlanta and it’s international image
wtf
July 29th, 2012
11:35 am
For those of you who criticize the amount of vendors etc at the Atlanta Olympics, remember this, the Atlanta Olympics was an experiment by the IOC to try and have an Olympics be completely self-sufficient and not leave a country or host city with a huge amount of debt. I don’t remember the Government pitching in a lot of money for the Olympics and I don’t think the city was left with a huge amount of debt, but largely a failed experiment in the end given the amount of commercialism.
mac
July 29th, 2012
11:50 am
BLAME THE GOVERNMENT OR THE DEMOCRATES—THEY GET BLAMED FOR EVERYTHING ELSE.
NullOp
July 29th, 2012
11:58 am
Atlanta’s grand plan was to rob tourists in every way they could. Locals were simply wringing their hands with greed in their eyes. It didn’t work out that way I’m glad to say. It was actually a great time to go out to dinner in Atl since the restaurants, and roads, were essentially empty. Money lost by greedy vendors. Hopefully lesson learned.
sausage king of chicago
July 29th, 2012
12:08 pm
My dearest friend has a son who competed in the Olympic swimming trials in Omaha all because he spent the last 10 years training at the Olympic pool at Georgia Tech. A life memory as s result of the ‘96 Games. The Olympics will enrich this city for decades to come.
Jenna
July 29th, 2012
12:12 pm
Gotta love all the “who cares??” responses since they’re from folks who obviously not only took the time to read the article, but then comment on it. Apparently you guys care a little! lol
Bill
July 29th, 2012
12:14 pm
You can’t have above-ground utility lines going right through downtown and call yourself an international city.
lugnut
July 29th, 2012
12:14 pm
Let us not forget Bill Campbell selling “sidewalk rights” to everything from beer trucks to Hooters. It was tackier than Larry the Cable Guy ever pretended to be. I have been to fairs in the middle of Nowhere, GA that exhibited more class. Wonder where that sidewalk money ended up?
George
July 29th, 2012
12:23 pm
After going back and looking at the Atlanta Opening Ceremony, it looks like a HS football game compared to the London Opening Ceremony. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po9AV3p7qkU
I volunteered at the Atlanta Olympics and was proud of what me and my associates accomplished during the games at the swimming venue. However, the rest of the games and the way it was run was embarrassing!
Like some of the others, when I retire, I’m outta here. Leave Atlanta to the baggy pants, pan handlers, rap crap, thugs and other assorted creatures allowed to flourish in the city. Atlanta doesn’t reach up to what it could be, it dumbs down to lowest form of life that it can find in the city.
dickelsby
July 29th, 2012
12:31 pm
How incredible that they would open with a cheer for the British Healthcare system!!!! Of course it was seconded by NBC’s Lefty-Lauer…..ask any Brit [or Canadian for that matter] about lengthy waits and inferior treatment outcomes and how they wish they were in the good ol’USA when they really needed treatment options.
Buttercupwasup
July 29th, 2012
12:32 pm
@Weena- you’re glad to not live in ATL anymore, but your obviously reading our local paper still. GTFOH!!!!
Jason
July 29th, 2012
12:47 pm
Man people need to quit their bitching. They had a HUUUUUUGE tribute to Atlanta by having Mohmmad Ali being in the Opening Ceremony. Not to mention NBC mentioned 96 a ton of times. If you hate Atlanta so much… MOVE OUT MY CITY!!
LydiasDad
July 29th, 2012
12:48 pm
The left wing IOC is probably ticked off that Chick-Fil-A is based in Atlanta, hence the snub. If it weren’t Sunday, I’d be at Chick-Fil-A right now celebrating their right to free speech!
Robert Woods
July 29th, 2012
12:54 pm
LA was also both American games Post WW2 were ommitted in fact three total were…Berlin 1936 Hitler’s Games…. LA 84′ and Atlanta 96′ I saw this after I went back and watched the clip.
Starting at 2 min 23 seconds in the clip graphics of all the Olympic Games Host Cities with Logos start to appear starting with 1898 in Athens every game logo billboard appears after excpet for three….Berlin 1936, Los Angeles 1984 and Atlanta 1996 ???? St. Louis 1904 and LA 1932 do appear but after London 1948 all games appear excpet for LA 84′ and Atlanta 96???
This alsong with Boyles focus on National Health Care which made no sense to me in an Oplympic Opening Ceremony looks like an inside jab at us perhaps, but I am not a conspiracy theorist!
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/2012/opening-ceremony-the-isles-of-wonder.html
Mike Orise
July 29th, 2012
2:13 pm
Danny Boyle anti-american………nooooooooooooooooooooo. Well uh duh. You have seen his movies right. The funny thing NBC chose not to air Danny’s little tribute to the terrorist attacks in London, they showed a Michael Phelps taped interview instead. WHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
Steve
July 29th, 2012
2:35 pm
I was quite shocked that Sir Elton John was snubbed.
LaBubba
July 29th, 2012
2:48 pm
does anyone care about the games anyway. England is still mad we womped dat arse back in the dat. Tax this beeeeaaaatch
Mike Orise
July 29th, 2012
2:59 pm
The complete non mention of Elton John is because Elton said nice things about former President Bush. Boyle didn’t like the fact that Elton stepped out of line. Of course Grandpa Paul McCartney knows to keep his poloitical views to himself.
Slip
July 29th, 2012
3:16 pm
Atlanta’s Olympics were exceptional(notwithstanding the mayor’s profiteering) but if the region doesn’t pass TSPLOST we will have frittered away the chance to be an international city in this century.
SP Lost
July 29th, 2012
3:21 pm
I didn’t get to watch, I was stuck in traffic
Danny Boyle
July 29th, 2012
3:25 pm
Gee, the maker of Trainspotting made some questionable decisons? go figure
czar Juan Antonio Samaranch
July 29th, 2012
3:30 pm
We also banned your stupid american capitalist game of baseball. Give us time and we will continue to find ways to irritate you americans, but not too much. We like your money too much!!! Keep giving..
native atlantan
July 29th, 2012
3:40 pm
@abc133, Im white, and right, Atlanta has gone from clean and white, to dirty and black.
Jim R.
July 29th, 2012
3:52 pm
The London Olympics can come and go as far as I am concerned. As far as current sports, I have more attention now on the soon-approaching College Football Season and the NFL preseason/training camps.
Yer a peein'
July 29th, 2012
4:02 pm
Surprised. European leftist filmmaker is anti-American? Funny how Western Europe turns their nose up at the USA, but when they need money or someone to save their behinds when their country is under attack, the USA is great.
As a man of Scottish lineage, I’d also note they mocked the story of Scotland’s greatest athlete with that stupid “Chariots of Fire” joke with Mr. Bean. I bet the Scots were not amused.
So the heck with the English. Our living standards are way better than theirs, and our healthcare system is better and doesn’t cost every citizen untold sums in taxes.
Sopwith Camel
July 29th, 2012
4:20 pm
Frankly, it wasn’t as good as all of the other Olympics. Some of the seedy element of Atlanta was evident in the entire process and at times I felt embarassed to be from Atlanta during the games. The games did not present Atlanta in a good light but they presented Atlanta for what it is.
Say whut
July 29th, 2012
4:28 pm
Bunch of snobs. I was at Atlanta and Barcelona. Both were great– Atlanta was better!