Atlanta
@flatlinecinema
Atlanta is accustomed to the global limelight, having hosted an Olympic Games and been at the forefront of the American Civil Rights movement, and home to some of America’s most fabled multinational corporations, including the consumer brand that revolutionized sports marketing the world over: Coca-Cola. Atlanta will not only be one of 11 US World Cup host cities, it is only one of two hosting one of the tournament’s semi-finals. The Great Game Lab has partnered up with local PBS and NPR affiliate WABE and Julien Virgin, a multimedia journalist, to explore the fascinating sporting threads connecting the “Capital of the New South” to the world.
Atlanta has always been a hub, for railroads, airlines, information, you name it. So, it’s no surprise that our sprawling, culturally diverse city that was the birthplace to the Civil Rights Movement is also a global sports hub. History is made here and felt beyond our borders. The excitement around the World Cup’s arrival is palpable here. Atlantans are ready to charm fans from all over the world, even as we joke about the traffic created by our preparations. I’m excite to showcase in my video series how Atlanta became a World Cup city — and what that journey reveals about the city itself.
Julien Virgin Atlanta Great Game Cities Fellow, WABE multimedia journalist