3. Olympics Out of Cobb: Greg Louganis bangs heads together

Sportshour

This documentary contains discriminatory and homophobic language that some listeners may find offensive.

In 1993 the legislators in Cobb County, Georgia passed a resolution stating that “lifestyles advocated by the gay community are incompatible with the standards to which this community subscribes".

Cobb County was due to welcome the Olympics in 1996 hosting the volleyball competition as part of the Atlanta Games. Narrated by Wanda Guenette, a member of the 1996 Canadian volleyball team who identifies as gay, and who faced the prospect of having her Olympic dream turned into a nightmare, forced to compete in a place that had made it clear she and other gay athletes were not welcome.

In Episode 3 we hear from Olympic legend Greg Louganis. In the early 1990’s there were few openly gay athletes, retired or active. Having only recently come out the Olympic movement wanted to recognise his bravery with an award. Louganis used his acceptance speech to condemn the decision to have the Games in Cobb County and added to the pressure to have them removed.

This is the inspiring story of a small campaign group who took on one of the most powerful organisations in the world and forced change. With the help of an Olympic legend and after months of high-profile peaceful protests, the Atlanta Organising Committee finally stripped Cobb County as a host venue and diverted the torch relay away from its streets.

Photo Credit: Carol Brown/Georgia State University Library