The 1996 Olympics in Atlanta were touted as a catalyst for urban renewal, but the reality was more complex. To make way for the games’ infrastructure and facilities, the city used eminent domain to seize and demolish properties in two predominantly-Black neighborhoods. Almost 30,000 Atlanta residents were uprooted from their homes and about 9,000 homeless people were illegally arrested.
And 12 years earlier, when Los Angeles hosted the Olympics, there were substantial environmental costs. The influx of visitors and vehicles led to elevated air pollution, which impacted athletes and residents alike.
With Atlanta hosting 2026 World Cup games and Los Angeles hosting the 2028 Olympics, what can these and other cities learn from the legacy of past sporting events? Keon L. Gilbert and Calvin Bell discuss how to achieve the delicate balance between ambitious urban development and the rights of local communities.
