World Athletes Monument facts for kids
| Coordinates | 33°47′36″N 84°23′11″W / 33.793349°N 84.386487°W |
|---|---|
| Completion date | 1996 |
The World Athletes Monument is a special statue in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. People also call it the Prince Charles Monument or Prince of Wales Monument. This monument was a gift from the Prince of Wales (who is now King Charles III). It was built to celebrate the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta. You can find it on Peachtree Street, at a spot called Pershing Point, in Midtown Atlanta.
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What is the World Athletes Monument?
This impressive monument stands about 55 feet (17 meters) tall. It is made from Indiana limestone with bronze statues at the top.
Design of the Monument
The monument has a unique design:
- Base: It starts with a cone-shaped bottom. This base has five stone rings around it.
- Plaques: Inside the base, there are special plaques. These honor the people who helped pay for the monument.
- Columns: Above the base, there is a round structure called a tholos. Five Doric columns surround this tholos. These columns stand for the five continents of the world.
- Atlases and Globe: On top of the columns are five bronze statues of Atlases. These figures look like they are holding up a large globe.
- Olympic Fire: Inside the tholos, there is a cauldron. This cauldron can create a fire, which reminds everyone of the Olympic torch.
The monument was carefully placed to line up with the old Gothic Peachtree Christian Church. This creates a cool view down the street!
How the Monument Came to Be
The idea for the World Athletes Monument started with a design contest.
Who Designed It?
The Prince of Wales's Institute of Architecture held an international competition. Anton Glikin, an architect from St. Petersburg, Russia, won the contest. He was a student at the Institute.
Building the Monument
The land for the monument was given by the Georgia Department of Transportation. The Randall family of Atlanta made the first big donation to start building. The monument was officially opened during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Lord Morris of Castle Morris represented Queen Elizabeth II at the dedication.
A Place for Remembering
Over the years, the World Athletes Monument has become a place where people gather. They come to celebrate important events or to remember special people.
Honoring Princess Diana
On August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, sadly passed away in a car accident. Many people in Atlanta felt very sad. Over 20,000 people came to the World Athletes Monument to grieve and show their respect. The Atlanta City Council later named the area the Prince of Wales’s Monument at Princess Diana Square.
Remembering President Reagan
On June 5, 2004, President Ronald Reagan died. Again, thousands of people gathered at the monument to mourn. They left flags, candles, flowers, and other items.
A Community Gathering Spot
Today, the monument is still a popular spot. People in Atlanta use it to celebrate sports victories. It is also a place for other important community events.
