Olympics Q & A
Some frequently asked questions - and answers - about the Atlanta Olympic Games:
Q: When are the Summer Games, and who will be there?
A: The games run July 19-Aug. 4, the first time they have stretched over 17 days. And for the first time, all the countries invited to participate - a record 197 - say they will attend. Some 10,700 athletes will compete in 271 events in 26 sports.
Q: What about the crowds?
A: Expect plenty of company. About 2 million visitors are expected to come to Atlanta for the games. The heaviest days are expected to be Friday, July 26, and Tuesday, July 30. On each of those days, 350,000 people will be in town.
Q: How much of the Olympics is actually in Atlanta?
A: The majority of the events are in a 1-1/2-mile “Olympic Ring” around downtown Atlanta. There also is competition in five other Georgia cities (rowing, equestrian, softball, sailing and soccer); Tennessee (whitewater canoe-kayak); and Alabama, Florida and Washington, D.C. (preliminary soccer rounds).
Q: I’ve heard horror stories about people trying to buy tickets. Even 3-1/2 months away, is everything sold out?
A: Just about. After starting with a record 11 million tickets, the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games is down to about 3.5 million, available by telephone and through the ACOG site on the Internet. Most of the prime events are sold out, though a few thousand extra seats for gymnastics and men’s basketball recently were made available. A Visa card is required for payment.
Q: OK, maybe I can still get tickets. Can I find a place to sleep?
A: Not much chance of finding a hotel vacancy in Atlanta - most rooms in the city have been booked for months. But rooms are said to be plentiful elsewhere in Georgia, and many people in Atlanta are renting rooms in their homes and apartments.
Q: Can I drive in and park my car?
A: Again, not much chance in the city. It’s closing many downtown streets, and there is absolutely no parking at Olympic venues. There will be parking available in several suburban lots, with a transfer to a bus downtown. Once downtown, you can take a subway or walk to most arenas.
Q: Will the Olympic city really be Hot ‘Lanta?
A: Get ready to sweat. The normal high temperature in Atlanta during the period of the Olympics is 88 degrees, though weather forecasters are predicting a hotter-than-usual summer this year.
Q: What about security?
A: All ticket holders will have to go through a metal detector to enter an arena. Among the items you cannot bring in are weapons, bottles, cans, coolers, banners and strollers.
Q: Who will be the stars of ‘96?
A: Most of the athletes, from the United States and other countries, have yet to be selected for their teams, but there are a few sureshots. The United States will have “Dream Team III,” featuring NBA stars Shaquille O’Neal, Scottie Pippen, Grant Hill and Spokane’s John Stockton. Michael Johnson of the United States will try for an unprecedented track double in the 200- and 400-meters. Dominique Moceanu, a 14-year-old Romanian native who now lives in the United States, could be the next Nadia Comaneci or Mary Lou Retton in gymnastics. Perhaps the biggest stars of the games, however, will be Noureddine Morceli of Algeria and Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, who own eight major world records in track.
Q: The opening ceremonies at the Olympics are always quite a show. What will Atlanta’s version look like?
A: This is the best kept secret of the games. Organizers will only say the ceremony will highlight the South, the centennial of the games and international brotherhood.
Q: If I can’t get there, how much of the games will be on TV?
A: NBC is planning 172 hours of coverage.