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. “
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229 comments Add your comment
Trotter
July 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
Bitch, bitch, bitch. Atlanta this, London that…blah, blah, blah. It’s about the sports NOT the host city/country. I’d just as soon see no celebrations that aren’t directed toward the athletes.
Yer a peein'
July 29th, 2012
5:12 pm
OK, think about this:
1) The “Industrial Revolution” in Britain was largely to support British Imperialism. Hey, you have to be equipped to colonize and subjugate other parts of the world.
2) The NHS is considered bloated, overly bureaucractic, and cost the British up to 12 percent of income (of course, that’s what the wealthy pay because they are evil and undeserving).
Jeff
July 29th, 2012
5:41 pm
I love the fact that the Olympics occurred in Atlanta, however in terms of resources and creativity Atlanta has had to compete against entire countries(European and Asian) instead of cities with many years of history and many more creative resources than a newly emerging US city.
The Atlanta Olympics was a very good sports Olympic.
Gary
July 29th, 2012
6:01 pm
I find that the negativity in these posts is what is truely embarassing. it is this type of negative comments against Atlanta and the Atlanta Olympics that makes Atlanta known as a bad sports town. There are clearly too many stupid people that post on this site, and that is sad. I was here for the 1996 Olympics and attended some of the events. It was very well done. You can’t compare our opening ceremonies to the most recent games because they get better and better each year (except, perhaps this year). The Chinese did an amazing job 4 years ago on such a grand scale that I am not sure it will ever be outdone.
Having said that, I think the London opening ceremony had some great parts. I loved the display at every seat that allowed the images to be displayed, the James Bond/Queen “entrance”, and the industrial age imagery. I did not like the NHS (healthcare segmant that had nothing to do with the Olympics or sports. It was stupid and was a joke to honor a system that isn’t the best in Europe, let alone the rest of the world (this was the same opinion as an English columnist). I liked more of the opening show that the English papers.
It is still an insult not to include the Atanta or LA games in the montage. I went back and watched the segment and the only other olympics not included was the 1924 Paris games. they had the Munich games that had the Isrealis murders by the Palestines during the games. They had the 1936 Berlin games heading into WWII. But not the two most recent US games. I would like to hear a reason why these were left out.
The only thing bad about the 1996 games was the bombing in Centenial Park (and that was bad).
The games were great. The venues are great and most are still being used (most of the Chinese venues are no longer used or have been demolished). And, most importantly, they didn’t cost the tax payers a dime. Heck, even the Flame has an annuity that pays for its maintenance (though, it should be relocated to centenial park…it doesn’t make sense to be by itself were it is now).
Scy
July 29th, 2012
6:07 pm
Well did they show Saint Louis or Rome or Tokyo or Montreal or Soeul ….they couldn’t show them all
Take another look
July 29th, 2012
6:17 pm
Someone who DOESN’T hate capitalism
July 28th, 2012
7:08 pm
We were left without paralyzing debt (see Greece) and with venues that continue to complement the city (cf China, London). It’s so easy to crap on everything from your positions of artistic superiority, but the reality is that the Atlanta games were wonderful–save for the significant intrusion of domestic terrorism.
What venues are you talking about? We have a park, half a baseball stadium, and a cauldron in a parking lot that most visitors confuse with construction scaffolding. Maybe your political ranting and raving is obscuring your reality.
AtltoHNL
July 29th, 2012
6:47 pm
As long as this city continues to believe in only electing black mayors and black city councilmen and women Atlanta will continue down the path of other black run cities like a Detroit and cities like Newark New Jersey.
Josh
July 29th, 2012
7:00 pm
Our Olympics were incredible and one of the best moments of this city’s history. Atlanta is going through some struggles right now but will recover soon. People will be frustrated until that recovery occurs. But we are certainly not the only city that is struggling post-Olympics. Ask Barcelona.
jacketman
July 29th, 2012
7:08 pm
So Juan Samaranch – the racist, Fascist, Communist Spaniard – didn’t like the Atlanta Olympics? Go figure. Possibly because we refused to pay him off.
Vince
July 29th, 2012
7:15 pm
Ya’ll should be. It was a joke!
Vince
July 29th, 2012
7:16 pm
AMEN, AtltoHNL!
J Owens
July 29th, 2012
7:34 pm
Let us resolve to be bigger than this slight.
scott
July 29th, 2012
7:41 pm
mayor kasim reed is a joke…no speaking skills and he seems way over his head..time for a white corprate mayor like gulliani,or bloomfield in new york… best bet here would be clarke howard
AtltoHNL
July 29th, 2012
7:44 pm
Atlanta would be better off with a white corrupt mayor who can get things done than a black corrupt mayor like Reed who is ineffective and a joke.
native atlantan
July 29th, 2012
9:20 pm
no wonder these new cities in dekalb keep springing up. The white folks dont want black dekalb trash telling them what to do. I hope Brookhaven is next on Tuesday, btw, vote NO on the tsplost.
Bill
July 29th, 2012
11:59 pm
What is so ironic about Atlanta is that MLK said he wanted people to not be judged by the color of their skin, but blacks will not vote for whitey. The blacks are more racist than whitey!
Mehta
July 30th, 2012
8:20 am
the atlanta olympics–one of worst organized and managed in 50 years–mistakes, gaffes, bombing, bill campbell’s corruption with munson steed–embarrassing…….!!!
We Are Chicken Biters, Not Pillow Biters.
July 30th, 2012
9:16 am
The IOC hates Atlanta, largely because of its large Christian population and morality-centric companies such as Chick-fil-A.
Ken Stallings
July 30th, 2012
12:47 pm
The facists leader (Samarach) failed to appreciate the somewhat anarchic setting of the Atlanta games, which was a direct result of freedom. People could wonder the area freely and even sell their wares in public.
Samarach hates such freedom and derides it.
So, having him make his hidden snide remark is actually something for which I take as a badge of honor for Atlanta.
Ken Stallings
July 30th, 2012
12:49 pm
BTW: The connection of the IOC to facism is not limited to Samarach. Prior to him, the American Averil Brundage was an avowed anti-Semitic Nazi sympathizer. This helps explain why the IOC decided to avoid any mention of the 1972 Munich games terrorist attack that murdered 11 Israeli athletes and at least one German citizen. This being the 40th anniversary of that terrorist attack, a moment of silence was formally requested, and formally rejected by the IOC!
Just another reason to take criticism from this bag of cronies as a badge of honor.
bradcarter01
July 30th, 2012
1:06 pm
Considering how SUCKY and LAME the Atlanta olympics turned out, THANK GOD THEY DIDN’T REHASH IT!! WHAT A EMBARASSING SAGE FOR GEORGIA!
Keith
July 30th, 2012
1:14 pm
Honestly- who cares?????????????????????????????????????????
Intown
July 30th, 2012
1:27 pm
Yes, the corporate sponsors and street vendors cheapened the games a bit. But Atlanta’s Olympic legacy is one that has been lasting and largely positive. Think about what was left behind:
(1) No debt.
(2) A new baseball venue — Turner Field.
(3) Replacing a dilapidated warehouse district with Centennial Olympic Park which now anchors a burgeoning museum district in the middle of downtown Atlanta.
(4) New dorms for Tech and GA State.
(5) the beginning of Atlanta’s international presence.
(6) Permanent public art displays.
The Truth
July 30th, 2012
1:40 pm
Juan Antonia $amaranch wa$ a $elf important a$$!
Garrett the 40 year old Intern
July 30th, 2012
9:44 pm
Somebody needs to get an official response from LOCOG. I noticed Channel 11 did a piece on it but was pretty fluffy. What happened to the days of newspapers and reporters asking tough questions?
Bill
July 31st, 2012
6:02 am
Ken, that’s Avery Brundage, not Averil.
Columbus
July 31st, 2012
9:36 am
Cant be called the best ever when there is a bomb that goes off and peopel are scared. That makes sense. Screw the limeys on the other hand. Atlanta Olympics were great. Hot maybe but great.
Ali lighting the torch was one of the top moments in Olympic history….but a bomb does put a damper on things…
ww
August 1st, 2012
5:12 pm
The swimming and women’s gymnastics is dominating the Olympics right now. Georgia is better represented by the people in the pool, and the sharp shooter. The swimmers sixteen years ago are mostly retired, so it doesn’t make since to mention the Atlanta games.
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