18 Years ago the Atlanta 1996 International Training Center Concept
Known as ATLANTA 1996 was Created
Atlanta, USA (August 4, 2014)
• 18 years ago, on August 4th, 1996 -- during the Atlanta 1996 Centennial Olympic Games -- Prince Albert II of MONACO and Dr. Marc-Daniel GUTEKUNST created the ATLANTA 1996 concept and established its mission statement as: PEACE & RECONCILIATION Through Sports and Education (PARSE).”
• 6 years later, on May 6th, 2002, thanks to the support of DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones, the ATLANTA 1996 became a reality when Ambassador Andrew YOUNG inaugurated the ATLANTA 1996 campus at Brook Run -- a partnership with the DeKalb County Government.
• On September 20th, 2002 by Prince Albert II of MONACO officially opened the ATLANTA 1996 campus at Brook Run and visited the 2 main institutional partners (Emory University and GA Tech).
• While Prince Albert II of MONACO was officially opening the ATLANTA 1996, Hernando Madroñero --then USOC Managing Director of International Relations-- publicly stated that the ATLANTA 1996 would collapse and go under in less than 6 months.
• 12 years later, not only has the ATLANTA 1996 not collapsed but it succeeded far beyond anyone’s most conservative expectations in the tough and competitive world of the Olympics and elite sports.
• Since 2002, over 2,000 athletes from 53 nations have trained and competed with the ATLANTA 1996 and have participated in all the summer Olympic Games since 2004.
• In 2010, the World Union of Olympic cities (WUOC) mandated the ATLANTA1996 to create and manage the London 2012 WUOC House™ during the London 2012 Olympic Games --the 1st ever exclusive Olympic Venue for cities that hosted the Olympic Games since 1896, as well as cities that had won the right to host the Olympic Games through 2018. The London 2012 WUOC House™ operated from July 26th through August 12th, 2012, and was officially opened on August 8th, 2012 by then IOC President Dr. Jacques ROGGE.
• Since 2009, the ATLANTA 1996 is a member of the World Union of Olympic Cities (WUOC), and represents the City of Atlanta at the WUOC.
