[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 31, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H9383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       THE SPIRIT OF THE OLYMPICS

  (Mr. LEWIS of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I attended the reopening 
of the Olympic Centennial Park in Atlanta. Tens of thousands of people, 
from all over the country and the world, turned out for a memorial 
service in honor of those killed and injured in the bomb blast that 
exploded early Saturday morning, shattering the tranquility of the 
Olympic games. They also turned out to demonstrate that they will not 
bow to the fear and intimidation of terrorism.
  Mr. Speaker, the Olympic games represent the best of the human 
spirit, and in many ways the response of the people in Atlanta to this 
vicious act truly represented the Olympic spirit. Yesterday, the people 
of Atlanta, of Georgia, of our Nation, and the world came together in 
prayer and solidarity. It was a beautiful and moving experience to be 
in a crowd representing the true brotherhood of nations.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to commend the many 
people who acted heroically in the wake of this terrorist attack: the 
medical personnel, the law enforcement officials and the thousands of 
volunteers who averted an even greater disaster.
  Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, the person who carried out this hideous 
crime will be found and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. In 
the meantime, we in the Congress should do everything in our power to 
pass legislation that will protect our citizens from such attacks in 
the future.

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