1996 Summer Olympics in Savannah
The following timeline entries were taken from:
"Savannah's City Hall, One Hundred Years of History, 1906-2005."
Prepared by Luciana M. Spracher for the City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library & Municipal Archives, December 2005.
September 3, 1992 Atlanta Centennial Games Olympic Flag Presented in Council Chamber
In September of 1990, the City of Savannah was informed that it would host the 1996 Olympic yachting events for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games to be held in Atlanta, Georgia. Two years later, on September 3, 1992, Mayor Susan S. Weiner unfurled the Atlanta Centennial Games Olympic flag in Council Chambers. “Cheers and thunderous clapping filled Savannah City Council chambers…as the city’s 1996 Olympic Games flag was unveiled.” Mayor Weiner announced that the flag would be displayed proudly in Council Chambers and read three resolutions regarding the upcoming 1996 Olympics, one which appointed John McCarthy as Community Olympic Liaison. The flag is still displayed in Council Chambers along with the United States flag, the Georgia flag, and the official flag of the City of Savannah.
On September 9th, festivities for the arrival of the traditional Olympic flag, traveling from the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain to Atlanta, began on River Street. The flag arrived the following day on the U. S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle and was greeted along the river front despite a rainy day.
Sources
City of Savannah Annual Report 90. City of Savannah, Georgia Office of Public Information, June 1991. Savannah Area Local Documents Collection, SAV.CM.01-1990. City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
“Jivens Named Year’s Biggest Story.” Savannah News-Press (1 January 1993) 1D:1.
Official Proceedings of City Council (3 September 1992). City of Savannah, Georgia Clerk of Council’s Office, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
Swann, Amy A. “City Council has Olympics Spirit.” Savannah News Press (4 September 1992).
January 17, 1996 Arts Ashore Sculpture Unveiled at City Hall
On January 17, 1996, a sculpture by local artist Heywood Nichols was unveiled in City Hall. Nichols created a bronze lamb and lion under a tree of knowledge that would eventually be moved to the entrance of the Children’s Botanical Garden of Tiles at Garrison Elementary School. The Garden was part of the Arts Ashore project, of the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs/Leisure Services Bureau’s ceramics studio, for the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Sources
“Meet the Artist.” Report to Council (Public Information Office, 12 January 1996). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
“Olympic Legacy Sculpture Coming to City Hall.” Report to Council (Public Information Office, 29 December 1995). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
July 8, 1996 Official Olympic Flag Unfurled on City Hall
On Monday, July 8, 1996, the official Olympic flag was unfurled on the second floor balcony of City Hall where it hung throughout the Olympic games. Mayor Floyd Adams, Jr. was joined by County Commission Chairman Joe Mahany and mayors of several other Chatham County municipalities for the ceremony. The following day, the Olympic torch arrived in Savannah on River Street. Thousands of spectators lined the streets as it made its way to Forsyth Park, before setting out across Chatham County and the state towards Atlanta and the opening ceremony there on July 19th, 1996. Savannah held its own opening ceremony on July 20th on River Street with Walter Cronkite hosting. Sailing competition began on the 21st in Wassaw Sound. Closing ceremonies were held on River Street on August 3rd. The seventeen-day event featured over four-hundred athletes from around the world.
Sources
“Olympic Happenings.” Report to Council (Public Information Office, 28 June 1996). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
“The Year in Review.” Savannah Morning News (29 December 1996) 6C:1.
July 18, 1996 Jack Leigh Exhibit Displayed in City Hall
On July 18, 1996, a reception was held in the afternoon in the City Hall rotunda for nationally recognized photographer Jack Leigh and his new City Hall exhibit. Mayor Floyd Adams, Jr. cut the ribbon and officially opened Leigh’s exhibit featuring images from his new book Seaport: a Waterfront at Work, about Savannah’s international port. Approximately fifty-five black and white images were displayed on the four upper floors of City Hall between July 19th and August 10th. During the exhibition, City Hall opened on Saturday from 1 to 5 in the afternoon to allow more people to view the work.
Sources
Official Proceedings of City Council (18 July 1996) 15. City of Savannah, Georgia Clerk of Council’s Office, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
“Picture This!” Report to Council (Public Information Office, 28 June 1996). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
“Seaport Exhibit on its Way to Germany.” Report to Council (Public Information Office, 9 August 1996). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
Prepared by the City of Savannah, Georgia, Research Library and Municipal Archives.
© Copyright 2005 by the City of Savannah, Georgia.
All rights reserved.
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