A proposal to move Atlanta’s Olympic cauldron from Summerhill to Centennial Olympic Park is drawing opposition from residents and community leaders who say the landmark represents more than just the 1996 Olympic Games — it is also a symbol of the neighborhood’s history and identity.

Dozens gathered Monday evening in Summerhill to protest plans to relocate the top portion of the Olympic Flame Tower, known as the cauldron, from its current location near Center Parc Stadium. The effort comes after Georgia State University announced a partnership with Olympic leaders, including Billy Payne and former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, to move the cauldron while leaving the tower and Olympic rings bridge in place.

In a written statement, Georgia State said the project would help preserve Atlanta’s Olympic legacy while maintaining a connection to the Summerhill community.

For Sheryl Calhoun, however, the debate is deeply personal.

“It’s something that my mom was a part of,” Calhoun said. “So by means of it being here, it keeps her living in here.”

Calhoun’s mother, Mattie Ansley Jackson, spent decades advocating for residents living around the former Olympic Stadium. According to her daughter, Jackson worked on issues ranging from housing and employment to broader neighborhood development efforts.

“She helped the community,” Calhoun said. “She played a big part with summer jobs, housing, unemployment, making sure the community was okay.”

Jackson also carried the Olympic torch during the 1996 Games and remained proud of the cauldron’s presence in the neighborhood, Calhoun said.

“My mom loved this torch,” she said.

Community leaders say their primary concern is not necessarily the relocation itself, but how the decision was made.

“Georgia State called some of the community stakeholders to have a conversation about it and basically just told us what was going to happen,” said Sharon Pitchford, executive director of the Summerhill Neighborhood Development Corporation.

Pitchford said many residents view the cauldron as a lasting symbol of both the Olympic Games and Summerhill’s own story.

“It is literally infused in the culture of the area,” Pitchford said.

The controversy has also revived memories of previous development battles in the neighborhood. Calhoun said her mother spent years fighting to remain in her home as the area surrounding the former Olympic Stadium underwent significant changes. According to the family, Jackson was ultimately allowed to stay in the home for the remainder of her life.

Jackson died in 2020 at the age of 98. Today, the lot where her home once stood is under construction.

Calhoun said relocating the cauldron would feel like losing another piece of her mother’s legacy.

“They taken a piece of my mother,” she said. “They’re taking a piece of one in this community like that here and left.”

Georgia State declined an interview request from CBS News Atlanta and referred the station to its written statement announcing the relocation plans. The university said the tower and Olympic rings bridge would remain in Summerhill even if the cauldron is moved.

ATLANTA – A new tech initiative is bringing free public Wi-Fi to several high-traffic areas across Atlanta, including Centennial Olympic Park. 

The city launched the one-year pilot program to boost digital equity and connect residents. 

Atlanta public Wi-Fi

What we know:

Atlanta officials partnered with Georgia Power and Comcast on a $263,000 agreement to fund the new wireless network. The connection is already active under the name “Atlanta Free” at Centennial Olympic Park, City Hall, and the Atlanta University Center. 

The city of Atlanta partnered with Georgia Power and Comcast to test high-speed digital infrastructure for the new “Atlanta Free” public Wi-Fi pilot network at Centennial Olympic Park and City Hall on June 22, 2026. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

What they’re saying:

Mayor Andre Dickens spoke at the park to highlight the project alongside corporate representatives and city leaders. 

Dickens emphasized that the technology is designed for long-term community equity rather than just a temporary perk for World Cup visitors. “Free public Wi-Fi is active here at Centennial Olympic Park, at City Hall, and at the Atlanta University Center,” Dickens said. “This is just the first phase of a city-wide effort. The goal is to create a network that will eventually help connect folks all the way from the airport to MARTA to the belt line.” To log on, users simply select the network on their device and accept the terms and conditions. 

The city of Atlanta partnered with Georgia Power and Comcast to test high-speed digital infrastructure for the new “Atlanta Free” public Wi-Fi pilot network at Centennial Olympic Park and City Hall on June 22, 2026. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

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Expanding city tech

What we don’t know:

Officials have not yet confirmed the exact timeline for expanding the network to future locations beyond the initial testing sites. The city has shared a goal to eventually bring the setup to the BeltLine and local fire stations, but specific next phases depend on the results of the one-year pilot. 

For years, Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation have invested in Atlanta with a clear focus: helping communities thrive by supporting financially resilient families, vibrant small businesses, and affordable places to call home. That commitment continues to show up across metro Atlanta through partnerships with nonprofits, civic organizations, and economic development leaders working to expand opportunity for residents and entrepreneurs.

This year, Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation deepened that work by announcing new philanthropic grants supporting both small business development and housing stability across the region. The latest investments include $550,000 for Invest Atlanta’s BizLabs Technical Assistance program and $2.25 million to the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to advance neighborhood investment and housing stability. Together, the grants reflect a broader strategy to strengthen the foundations of economic mobility.

Strengthening Atlanta’s Small Business Ecosystem

Small businesses are central to Atlanta’s identity and economic future. Through its support of Invest Atlanta’s BizLabs program, Wells Fargo is helping entrepreneurs access expert guidance, technical assistance, and opportunities to grow a long-term presence in the city. The investment also supports activation of downtown storefronts, including pop-up retail opportunities that can help local businesses gain visibility, test ideas, and connect with new customers.

The newest funding builds on Wells Fargo’s previous $20 million Open for Business Fund grant announced in 2022 to support a collaboration between United Way of Greater Atlanta and Invest Atlanta aimed at helping Atlanta small businesses grow. These investments show a long-term approach to entrepreneurship: not one-time assistance, but sustained partnership designed to help business owners build resilience and remain rooted in the communities they serve.

Investing in Housing Stability and Neighborhood Strength

Housing stability remains one of metro Atlanta’s most urgent challenges, especially as housing costs continue to outpace wages. Wells Fargo’s $2.25 million grant to the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta will support efforts to stabilize housing and expand access to opportunity across the region.

The investment will help address persistent barriers to long-term stability and strategies to preserve affordable housing. The Community Foundation has already helped mobilize more than $220 million in investment and supported the creation or preservation of more than 6,000 homes across the region, and Wells Fargo’s support encourages that momentum.

A Shared Vision for Atlanta’s Future

Mayor Andre Dickens described Wells Fargo’s substantial and consistent investment in the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative as a meaningful commitment to the city and its people – noting that support for housing stability and small businesses helps build more resilient neighborhoods and a more inclusive local economy. Jason Rosenberg, Wells Fargo’s head of Public Affairs, also shared “Wells Fargo’s continued long-term commitment in Atlanta reflects our investment in the community.” 

Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation have now surpassed more than $40 million in philanthropic support in Atlanta since 2021 – emphasizing a sustained commitment to the city’s residents, neighborhoods, and nonprofit partners.

About Hope Atlanta

There is strong alignment between Wells Fargo’s philanthropic priorities and Hope Atlanta’s mission as we work with our clients to secure stable housing and support them on the journey to self-sufficiency. 

Hope Atlanta provides case management for all clients, in which collaborative planning establishes goals for the client and a plan to reach those goals. Workforce development, healthcare navigation, and access to other resources are all a part of this care. By equipping our clients with full wraparound support, we can affect lasting change for our clients through increased income and greater opportunities for improved economic mobility.

To learn more, visit: hopeatlanta.org

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