1996

WEEK OF __..... l_-i'-"'3'---q~z-o ___

Local residents enjoy Olym • ICS l had a good response to my request for news of the Olympics. What we were all afraid would hap– pen at the Olympics, really did! There are really some nut's in this world, they get their kicks from try– ing to rum things for others. The bomb that went off in Olympic Centennial Park was bad, but it would have been worse if they had not had a little warning and started moving people back. Centennial Park wa!> the only area that did not have metal detectors and bag inspeuions. The nags of all of the participating nations were th 1ng. blue grass music. jazz. and ethnic mu...ic could be heard among the thou– &md of con\.crsations that v. ere gomg on. By: Ruth Mills A" v. e walked in the crowd, lan– guage-, from every comer of the v.:urld could be heard. and the rainy wt:athcr matched the mood. The security ''a~ e\ ~n tighter at the Venue" and the Park was closed On S.tttlldily night , ' ' c saw the U S . ba,ehall te~ml play Australia, this was the lughltght f(lr hoth of us. It madl· " ' feel so proull t9 be Ame::ncans and hea r the Chants of, USA. USA' 'I here were around forth thous.md other pccta tors at the game. ·r he Urutcc.J ~t.llc.., was VICtOfiOU\.

"The volunteers that directed the crowd... to th<: proper venues were 'e~ helpful and made it easy to get from one area to another. They o-.ed Bull Horns so the crowd's could hear their directions, the direction'> were given in French and Englbh. We traveled on the Marta Train ffl m the airport to downto,.. n Atlanta. The train was a wonderful v.a\i to move around. You haven 't lt\cd until you are crammed like --.1rdines on a hot train with every niltionaluy in your face. We were in Centennial Park all day on Friday. \\e went into the Venue prepared by Coca Cola. called Olympic City. Th1s was our longest time to wait in hne. onl) about 20 minutes, but it v. a.,' er~ hot. We watched the birds pia) in the 01) mpic Fountains, and Wiltched ~ people took paper and etched the names of their loved ones that were commemorated on the 01) mpic Bricks. We awoke on Saturday morning to the oe\\ of the bombing in Olympic Park, the mood on Saturda) was much more somber

Our ECCC Collegians did a great jo~ in presenting three concerts in Atlanta, from what I heard. Four cf them were from the Union area, Jeremy Swindle, J. B. Ware. Lori White and Nic Massey, also Geneva Hansford's grandson, Glen of Decatur. I am sure their parent" were happy when they arrh ed home safely. It was a great experi– ence for them and they repn.c;ented our l:ast Central M1o;.,iss1ppi Area well -Thanks to all of you Coach Tim and Kath} L. attended the Olympic~ Kath} "

We enJoyed' isiting the mall ma at Underground \tlant.l nd h d been gone from there around an hour when there w,tl> a bomb "care, which turned out to be onl) an 1ron in a bag. We visited with pcnph: from Ireland India Jnd Gr\:at llrita1n on the traiu ,go111g nat: k to the airport on Saturday 111f)u We abo saw Ita!\ and l{uo;st.l pi.IV VoJie::yball. the Italian' \t'J 11 fa,ontc<. of the Amc11c.u1" '' '' '' really great to sec thc.: '>Jh'rb 1 n ship and support that all the people of the world reallv ha\le for l·.u:h other. In spite of the homhlllg .11 the Park, we came away from the games w1th the feeling lhat "e had been part of an international 1!\enl and tt Moment in History." I had several more trom Umon that \\COt to Atlanta but I could not get in touch Wtth tht:m. Our grand.,on~. Mark ,md Adam Libel! of Florence, AL, alllnlhl the Socct.r Oly mp1c~ in Birmingham last weekl nd wtth their neighbors, they reallj CIIJO} ed it.

APPEARED IN: CARTHAGINU\N_________

SCOTT COUNTY TI~S _ _ _ _ UNION APPEAL_..::...~---- WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL_ _ _

NESHOBA DEMOCRAT_______ NEWTON RECORD_ _____ ClARION-LEDGER___ _ _

MERIDIAN STAR_ _ ___