Victor Deupi, Geoffrey Kent, Rodney Cook, Jr., The Prince of Wales, Dr. Richard John

Olympic Gold Medallist Jon Root with assistance from Josephine English Cook, prepares to light the Olympic torch at the dedication ceremony.

Anton Glikine, Master Designer of the Prince of Wales's Monument Jonathan Kreig, Stone Carver for the Prince of Wales's Monument
Mayor Sam Massell, Rodney M Cook Jr. and English Cook	Fulton County Commission Chairman Mitch Skandalakis, and Lord Morris of Castlemorris, RMC
Commissioner of Transportation Wayne Shackelford at podium.	Olympic Gold Medalist Jon Root before lighting cauldron

Our guide in the completion and attendance of the Millennium Gate is the Prince of Wales’s World Athletes Monument whose five Atlas figures were sculpted by the celebrated Dick Reid of York, England and Martin Dawe of Atlanta, Georgia. Although not easily accessible and solely a work of art, CNN estimated that 20,0000 people were drawn to the World Athletes Monument during several days of international mourning for Diana, Princess of Wales. In addition, thousands have come to the site to celebrate Olympic victories and mourn past presidents at the time of their deaths. By contrast, the dramatic Millennium Gate site is a living monument with access to public parking and superior public transportation.

All major networks and CNN broadcast live from this site for over a week after the death of the Princess of Wales.	"Thousands assemble at the make- shift memorial site for Diana at the World Athletes Monument at Pershing Point in Midtown, Atlanta. A large screen television in the background broadcasts the funeral scene from England." (Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.)
Traffic was moved through alternate routes because of the thousands of people sleeping at the plaza. It became a destination cultural site for the region's citizens from that time forward.

Flags, candles, flowers and mementos were wrapped around the World Athletes Monument after the death of President Ronald Reagan in 2004. Local news media covered the event at the World Athletes Monument indicating it was a unique cultural work of art which the citizens of Atlanta have embraced as a place for healing.

For more information regarding The National Monuments Foundation, Inc. or our projects, please contact us at:

Rodney Mims Cook, Jr., President
The National Monuments Foundation, Inc.
3855 Randall Mill Road, N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30327

Telephone: (404) 364-3002
Facsimile: (404) 237-1707
E-mail: ask@thenmf.org