There are a lot of reasons why Atlanta Olympics proved to be one of the most memorable, not to mention controversial, events ever in Olympic history. Firstly, a number of people felt that Athens should have been awarded the right to host the Olympics because it was in their city that the modern phase of the event was born exactly one hundred years ago. The privilege nevertheless went to Atlanta in the end, and the city was able to raise as much as $1.8B from private funding and sales alone for the Olympics.
How to Have a Complete Set of Atlanta Olympics Memorabilia
There are various ways for you to have a “complete” set of Atlanta Olympics memorabilia. You can do so, for instance, by having memorabilia for each and every nation – a record-breaking 197 – that participated in the Olympics.
Another way to achieving a complete set of Atlanta Olympics memorabilia is by having one of each and every event making up the Olympics: equestrian, diving, cycling, canoeing, basketball, fencing, archery, football, athletics, gymnastics, baseball, handball, badminton, softball, hockey, synchronized and traditional swimming, judo, table tennis, modern pentathlon, tennis, rowing, volleyball, sailing, water polo, shooting, wrestling, and weightlifting.
If, however, you’re concerned about your budget, photographs are probably the most affordable way to obtain Atlanta Olympics memorabilia. The best scenes to have photographs of would be when Muhammad Ali carried the torch all the way to the top or when he received a replacement medal for his first place win in the 1960 Olympics, Leon Stukelj receiving recognition as one of the oldest living athletes at age ninety-seven, Celine Dion belting out “The Power of the Dream”, Gloria Estefan singing “Reach” in the closing ceremony, and Gladys Knight crooning out “Georgia on My Mind”.
If you’re interested in people, however, then you should concentrate on obtaining replicas, autographed pictures, or any other type of memorabilia related to the following athletes have proven to be most notable during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics:
Andre Agassi – The suave tennis player was able to manage a Career Golden Slam by winning first place in the Olympics.
Kurt Angle – Although he is nowadays more known for being a WWE wrestler, his first shot to fame was winning a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Lee Lai Shan – This athlete was the first to give golden glory to his city Hong Kong when he won a medal in sailing.
Michael Johnson – He won two medals and set a new world record.
Naim Suleymanoglu – This athlete was the first to win three gold medals in weightlifting
USA Dream Team – Composed of the best NBA players, this team still hasn’t stopped dominating the world of basketball.
Tips for Buying, Collecting, and Keeping 1996 Atlanta Olympics Memorabilia
Always look for a certificate of authenticity before purchasing any such memorabilia.
If there is no certificate provided but you are purchasing from a trusted and reliable source, you can have one made by approaching any of the authenticity-testing organizations in the country.
Label each and every memorabilia in your collection carefully and completely. Make sure that you list the name or title (if any) of the memorabilia, where and when you’ve bought it, and don’t forget to keep the receipt.
Cover all memorabilia with the appropriate package to keep its original condition.
