WELCOMES THE WORLD
 Dreams
Do Come True |
| Columbus Sets The
Stage For The World |
| Quick Pitch On The
Olympics |
| Superball
|
| A Civic Center Created
to Entertain The World |
| How To Reach Us |
Just as that familiar phrase
tells of "build it and they will come", city leaders have answered the challenge
to bring Columbus to the center of international attention. It began with the passing of
the sales tax referendum that earmarked $32 million for recreation improvements, which
include the world class softball facility and the Civic Center. The task for bringing the
world to Columbus can be attributed to no less than a small army of men and women
committed to making Columbus the best... the best place to raise families, the best place
for establishing a career, the best place for school and education. Who are they? Our
civic leaders, city officials, your neighbors. This roll call of volunteers and
visionaries includes hundreds who have worked silently in the background. And each
continues to provide the support to make improbable ideas possible.
Golden Park
-Renovation of the minor league
baseball park used by the Columbus RedStixx was paid for with $1.5 million in sales tax
funds.
-Construction of an eight-field
softball complex was funded from $2.5 million in sales tax funds. The complex is to be
used as a practice facility for the event and site of Superball Classic.
-$2.75 million in guaranteed funds
from the private sector will cover the ACOG operating expenses for staging the Games,
including transportation, security and grounds maintenance.
-The Games: Teams from more than 180
countries will come to Georgia in 1996. Competition for the medals in 30 sports will take
place July19-August4,1996, drawing an estimated two million visitors.
-Volunteers: Columbus 96 has
recruited volunteers to work now through the Olympics. Some 2,500 volunteers,
(SuperStars), will support the event These volunteers serve as ambassadors for the
community.
-Softball Teams: Eight teams will
participate in the first ever Olympic Softball competition in Columbus. Teams from
Australia, Canada, China, Chinese-Taipei, Japan, Puerto Rico, the Netherlands and the
United States have already qualified for the Olympic competition.
-Organizers expect all 32 games to
sell out in a stadium seating 8,500 fans. Spectators from throughout Georgia and the world
are expected to attend the games. One hundred sixty-five players, coaches, and staff
members will stay in the Olympic Village at Fort Benning for about a month. Columbus
expects over 200 thousand visitors during the Olympic competition.
-Television: An estimated 60 percent
of the world is expected to watch the Olympics, making them the most watched event ever.
Different nations will feature different programming.
-Economic Impact: The estimated
impact on Georgia from 1991 - 96 is $5.1 billion. During the softball competition alone,
Columbus will realize an estimated $25.7 million in earnings.
SUPERBALL -Columbus will host the best women
softball players in the world during the Superball Classic '97 in August.
-The event is expected to be played
in the new softball stadium in South Commons, which is the site of the 1996 Olympic
softball competition.
Civic Center
-The $36 million civic center will
be the site of basketball tournaments, headline concerts, nationally known speakers, and
hockey games.
-The new building provides 22,000
square feet of arena space and holds 8,000 to 10,000 seats.
-The main level consists of 100,000
square feet; 70,000 square feet make up the concourse level.
-As people walk into the main
entrance, they are greeted by the ticket office and a monumental staircase on either side
leading up to the concourse level. The arena level will house concession, press rooms, and
lockers for athletes. The concourse will be set up for additional concessions, rest rooms,
and entrances for most seating.
-The civic center will also have a
5,000 square foot meeting and hospitality suite with glass windows overlooking the river.
-Architects have included in the
design a large staircase leading from the concourse level outside to the plaza and then
onto the Riverwalk.
HOW TO
REACH US
COLUMBUS 96
P.O. Box 1519
Columbus, GA 31902
United States
Phone Number: (706) 660-1996
Fax Number: (706) 571-2049
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