Q: With this being the 20th anniversary of the Olympics in Atlanta, where were the venues for the different events? I know Philips Arena wasn’t around at that time.
A: That's right.
Philips Arena was built a few years after the Olympics, but the late, somewhat great Omni and Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium were both hanging around and hosted events that summer 20 years ago.
There was so much going on, just about every open field and enclosed venue around the city were filled with sports of all types (anybody up for a game of team handball?) and fans.
I spent most of my days covering boxing at Georgia Tech’s Alexander Memorial Coliseum – which later was rebuilt as McCamish Pavilion – but saw events all over town.
Those included fencing, wrestling, weightlifting and team handball at the cavernous Georgia World Congress Center, which also was home to table tennis and judo, among other sports.
I saw baseball at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, the decathlon and other track and field events at the Olympic Stadium (now Turner Field), swimming, diving and water polo at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, field hockey at the rebuilt Herndon Stadium, and basketball at the Georgia Dome.
Other venues in Atlanta included the Georgia State Sports Arena (badminton), Clark-Atlanta’s Panther Stadium (field hockey), Morehouse’s Forbes Arena (basketball), the Omni (volleyball) and the Wolf Creek Shooting Complex, near Camp Creek Parkway.
The Olympic revelry extended to other cities around the metro area and state.
There was cycling, archery and tennis in Stone Mountain, equestrian in Conyers, beach volleyball in Jonesboro at what is now Clayton County International Park, canoeing and rowing at Lake Lanier, softball at Golden Park in Columbus, sailing in Savannah and soccer at Sanford Stadium and rhythmic gymnastics at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens.
Many of these facilities are still in use, although the number will decrease next year, when the Georgia Dome is scheduled for demolition.
Q: I’ve discovered a Nevels Road in the College Park area. Who is it named for?
—Annette Nevels, Atlanta
A: The search for an answer to your question continues. If anyone knows the origin story behind Nevels Road or any Nevels who lived in that area, let me know.
