I took this photo during opening ceremonies. If you look closely at the picture on the big screen, you'll see a live picture of the fireworks from the blimp above.

All my life, ever since I was a little boy, I wanted to attend an Olympic Games. This truly was a dream for me. 

I consider my trip to Atlanta for the 1996 Olympics one of the greatest experiences of my life. I went from the jubilation of witnessing history to the horror of realizing I left a half-hour before the bomb went off -- right where I was standing. 

I took many photos on my trip, the best of which can be viewed in a 34-picture slideshow at: 

I went back to Centennial Park recently and took 11 follow-up shots of how the park now looks.

Here are some scans I made of some Olympic material:

Olympic Books

Amazon has dozens of Olympic books. Here are some of the better ones: 100 Moments Chronicle Pictorial History

• Opening Ceremonies Ticket
• Olympic Pin Given Only to Opening Ceremonies Ticket Holders
• Nations Bank $5 Olympic Visa Card (Given to Opening Ceremonies Ticket Holders)
• The Best Magazine Covers During The Olympics (including rare special edition Sports Illustrated Issues given only at Olympics)
• Official Olympics Stamps (entire set)
• Olympic Postcards

Click on either of the photos below to be taken to computer wallpaper of either opening ceremonies (with everybody glowing while holding colored flashlights) or the way Centennial Park looks today -- with the fountain still going.

Listed below are links to the columns I wrote while at the Olympics. These columns were meant to be about life as a spectator. 

• July 20: Opening Ceremonies Was Breathtaking
• July 21: Of Koreans Singing YMCA and Judo Mothers
• July 23: Ever Witness History?
• July 24: Atlanta's Glaring Problem -- Transportation
• July 27: Bomber Cannot Kill Olympic Spirit
• July 29: Moments - 10 minutes of Olympics Street Life
• August 4: A Lifetime of Memories