300 S. Hull Street was a parking lot when tens of thousands of Olympic athletes and fans descended on Athens for the Centennial Olympic Games. UGA faculty, students, and staff joined other Athenians in welcoming visitors to the Classic City. Today, UGA’s Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries occupy that former parking lot, and the records and artifacts collected by many who worked, volunteered, and attended the Olympics are part of the collections of the Hargrett, Russell, and Brown Archives.
On Tuesday, June 21, 2016, the Special Collections Libraries will continue their commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Centennial Olympics with “Athens’ Olympics Remembered,” a panel discussion featuring three couples, all of whom were deeply connected to the Games. James and Carol Reap, Jack and Jacquie Houston, and Marc and Becky Galvin will share their stories, and audience members will be asked to join in and contribute.
Mary Miller, Peabody Awards Collection archivist, organized the event. “I still have vivid memories of attending the Women’s soccer finals, and it’s hard for me to believe it’s been 20 years since the 1996 Olympics. The Olympics had a strong and lasting impact on Athens, and I’m looking forward to hearing more about the experiences of those who were closely connected to the process.”
James K. Reap served the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) as the uniform manager for Volunteer Services at the Uniform Distribution Center in Atlanta. Jacquie Houston was by Nwankwo Kanu’s side moments after he captained the Nigerian men’s soccer team to win the Gold. A highlight for panelist Marc Galvin, who served as a sector coordinator for UGA during the Olympics, was assisting with the raising of the United States flag at the Gold Medal ceremony for United States Women’s Soccer Team. “I have always been patriotic but that was a peak moment and I was honored to have that opportunity,” Galvin recalls.
Uniforms, photographs, souvenirs, a torch, newspaper headlines, and a gold medal are among the artifacts included in the ongoing Special Collections Olympics exhibit. A tour of the exhibit and a reception will follow the discussion.
Free and open to the public.
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries
Room 271