“We are more than pleased with the news of the huge increase of waste being diverted,” said Jeff Graves, Publix Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon Race Director. “Our goal is to put on a great event, which includes keeping the city of Atlanta clean and beautiful.”

Held on the weekend of March 19-20, 16,000-plus participants in the Half and the Full Marathon, represented a more than 6% increase over the 2010 event. The marathon featured 3,100 runners, while the half marathon had 13,040 registered participants.

The marathons started at Centennial Olympic Park and took participants through metro Atlanta’s most interesting and historic areas, including the Sweet Auburn District, Inman Park, Decatur, Druid Hills, Virginia-Highland, and Midtown areas. Along the way, they passed landmarks including the King Historic Site, Carter Center, four college campuses, and Piedmont Park, finishing back at Centennial Olympic Park. The race featured six neighborhood cheering zones, 19 hydration stations and 30 charity affiliates participating to raise money for their respective causes.

About US Road Sports: US Road Sports & Entertainment Group is a health and wellness company dedicated to the production of world-class endurance events. The mission of US Road Sports is to offer an unparalleled participant sports experience that showcases host communities and endures as a deeply valued local asset through events that are a part of the city’s culture, identity and brand. For each participant, US Road Sports strives to offer events that allow participants of all skill levels the opportunity to improve their physical and mental health and accomplish life-altering goals while having fun. US Road Sports provides sponsors and municipalities highly effective exposure to help maximize their presence and message in the community.

About Centennial Olympic Park: A lasting legacy of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Centennial Olympic Park has become a performing-arts venue, community gathering-space and an anchor for downtown development. The Georgia World Congress Center Authority operates the 21-acre Park, as well as the Georgia Dome and Georgia World Congress Center. The three state-owned facilities are one of the largest combined sports, entertainment and convention center facilities in the world.

The GWCC will also host the 2011 Big South National Qualifier, a youth volleyball competition, Friday through Sunday. Located in Buildings A and B, expected attendance is 50,000 daily. For more information, visit: www.bigsouth.us

The Kappa Alpha Psi Comedy Show 2011 will be in the Thomas Murphy Ballroom in Building B on Friday evening and expected attendance is 4,500. For more information, visit: www.kappa2011.com

At Centennial Olympic Park, the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge, Friday and Saturday, will attract an estimated 3,000 attendees for the canine sporting event featuring dog diving, freestyle flying disc, head-to-head weave poles and Jack Russell hurdle racing. For more information, please visit: www.barknetwork.com/

Additionally, Philips Arena, located next to the GWCC, will host the Hawks vs. Boston, Friday at 8 p.m. and the WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony on Saturday at 8 p.m. For more information about these events, visit: www.philipsarena.com

Saturday is also opening day for the Dolphin Tales gallery and show at the Georgia Aquarium, located next to Centennial Olympic Park. www.georgiaaquarium.org

Attendees are strongly encouraged to take MARTA to minimize traffic. MARTA offers free daily parking at 23 of its stations. The Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station is located on the GWCCA campus, and fare is $2 each way. The Vine City and Peachtree Center stations are also located a short walk from the GWCCA campus. For more information about riding MARTA go to: www.itsmarta.com

Heavy traffic is anticipated downtown Atlanta on March 31-April 3. Downtown businesses and visitors should plan accordingly.

Activities will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center March 30-April 2 with NCAA Hoop City in Building A. This interactive fan festival will include competitions, basketball clinics, prizes and autograph sessions. On Sunday, April 1, thousands of young basketball fans will participate in the NCAA Dome Dribble to Hoop City. Participants will meet on International Plaza at the GWCC at 1 p.m. and will dribble along a route outside the Georgia Dome.

Please note, upper Andrew Young International Blvd, which runs from Marietta Street to Centennial Olympic Park Drive, will be closed Friday, March 30 through Monday, April 2 and will reopen Tuesday morning.

Throughout the weekend Centennial Olympic Park will be full of free musical entertainment and activities, including big screen broadcast of the games, and will serve as the epicenter of Final Four activity. Andrew Young International Boulevard through Centennial Olympic Park is closed until Wednesday, April 4. On Friday, the Park will open at 7 a.m. with activities running until 11 p.m. The evening culminates with a fireworks display at 9:45 p.m. The Park opens Saturday morning at 7 a.m., with a 5K fun run at 8 a.m. and entertainment throughout the day until midnight. The Park plays host for more basketball fun on Sunday from noon to 11 p.m. and on Monday 3 p.m. to midnight.

Related activities will also take place at Georgia Tech, Georgia State University and Morehouse College, with the YES basketball clinics on Saturday, April 1. Additionally, downtown restaurants—Max Lager’s American Grill & Brewery, Dailey’s, Pittypat’s Porch and Azio—will serve as official fan gathering spots during the weekend.

Philip’s Arena also has two activities going on over this action-packed weekend. On Friday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. Philip’s hosts the NABC All-Star Game, and the Hawks take on Chicago at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 1. For additional information, visit www.philipsarena.com.

For more information about the NCAA Final Four and details about all of the events, please visit www.atlanta.net/finalfour.

With thousands of attendees expected downtown this weekend, officials are encouraging everyone to “Make it a Breeze” and take MARTA. The Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station serves the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park. Access is also available from Peachtree Center, Five Points and Vine City stations. Fare is just $1.75 each way. For additional MARTA information, visit www.itsmarta.com.

Parking is expected to be very limited in downtown and fans may find themselves in heavy traffic during peak periods. For suggestions on driving to the GWCC campus, please visit www.atlanta.net/finalfour.

With so much going, Final Four weekend is sure to be a fun time downtown.

“Although we can’t turn off all of the lights on our campus due to the nature of our business,” said GWCCA Sustainability Coordinator Tim Trefzer, “we want to demonstrate our commitment and support of this world-wide initiative by eliminating auxiliary lighting for Earth Hour. We recognize that because of limited resources and growing demand, minimizing energy consumption is the most sustainable alternative available.”

The GWCCA campus is committed to sustainability and energy conservation. Non-essential lighting is regularly turned off when possible and escalators are turned off when sections of the buildings are not in use. A recent initiative includes a $2.3 million overhaul of the exhibit hall lighting, upgrade of lighting controls and additional lighting motion sensors at the GWCC. During facility renovations, the Authority also incorporates fixtures, equipment, and strategies that aim to reduce overall consumption.

For more information about the GWCCA’s green initiatives, visit: http://gwcc.com/about/Growing_Green.aspx.

Centennial Olympic Park welcomes three million international and local visitors each year. The walking tour allows visitors to enjoy the park in a new way and at their own pace, not at the mercy of a tour schedule. Visitors will experience Atlanta and the continued legacy of the 1996 Olympic Games. This self-guided tour through the Park is packed with history, architecture, quirky trivia, original music and interviews. The walking tour begins and ends at the Park’s Visitor Center and is approximately an hour long. Each stop along the tour is designated by a one or two digit number engraved on a raised, granite square-foot marker. Find the number when you arrive at the stop and enter it into the keypad on your listening wand. The first month the tour is complimentary, moving forward the cost is $5 per listening device. The wands are available at the Visitor Center between 10 am and 4 pm daily. The tour is also available online in a MP3 format that can be downloaded at www.centennialpark.com.

The hosting of the 1996 Olympic Games made a lasting imprint on Atlanta and the new Walking Tour offers an authentic tribute to the 1996 Olympics and the beauty of this downtown oasis.

• Best Volunteer Program: Gold
• Best Event/Organization E-Newsletter: Silver
• Best Social Media Site: Silver
• Best Event Program (interior 4 or more colors): Bronze
• Best Street Banner: Bronze

The Park, host to more than 3 million visitors each year, continues to be an award-winning destination. Competing against nearly 50 other top festivals, including renowned, annual events such as the Kentucky Derby Festival and Macon Georgia’s International Cherry Blossom Festival, Centennial Olympic Park is recognized for its outstanding contributions to the downtown Atlanta community, as well as the industry.

“The Park is dedicated to providing the best programming and experience to the general public,” says Mark Banta, general manager of Centennial Olympic Park, “and these awards validate our efforts.”

Centennial Olympic Park won “Best Volunteer Program” in 2005, and with approximately 2,900 volunteer hours in 2009 the Park is honored again in 2010. This year’s success is attributed to the outstanding efforts and enthusiasm of the Park staff and creative team. Centennial Olympic Park remains committed to offering unique and fulfilling volunteer opportunities and would not be as successful as it is today if it were not for dedicated volunteers. Their efforts are invaluable and help make Centennial Olympic Park the successful downtown oasis that is both nationally recognized and admired.

For a complete list of winners and more information on the IFEA, go to www.ifea.com.

The annual festivities in the Park begin with children’s activities from noon – 4 p.m., including arts and crafts, face painting, inflatables, stilt walkers and more! Visitors can also relax on the Great Lawn and cool off in the world famous Fountain of Rings. Q100 personalities will be broadcasting live from the Park.

The free musical entertainment begins at approximately 5 p.m. with R&B covers from the 911 band. A fan favorite, 911 band is a group of 7 young entertainers that captures an audience with high energy and a lot of musical talent. Following at 6:30 p.m. is a performance from country/pop trio, Edens Edge. Enjoy flawless three part harmony and locked rhythm, coupled with a deep connection to their bluegrass roots. Edens Edge is today’s country music.

The headliner at 8 p.m. is 80′s rock band the Smithereens, best known for their sizzling hit singles “Blood and Roses” and “A Girl Like You”. The Smithereens carved their niche on album rock radio and earned a reputation as a great concert attraction.

The finale of the evening is the AirTran Airways Fireworks Spectacular, a truly amazing show framed by the Downtown skyline and synchronized to a special selection of patriotic music. The award-winning display is televised on 11Alive WXIA-TV and the soundtrack is simulcast on Q100.

Each year, thousands of people come to Centennial Olympic Park to celebrate Independence Day. MARTA is strongly encouraged for transportation. Exit the West Line at the Philips Arena/Dome/GWCC Station (W-1) or exit the North Line at Peachtree Center (N-1), and follow the signs to Centennial Olympic Park. Glass containers, pets, fireworks, weapons, vending and grills are prohibited. All bags are subject to search. Alcohol may not be brought into the Park; however, it is available for purchase, along with food and nonalcoholic beverages, inside the venue.

Centennial Olympic Park’s 4th of July Celebration is sponsored by AirTran Airways, Q100, 11Alive WXIA-TV, Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn and Coca-Cola. For more information on Centennial Olympic Park’s 4th of July Celebration or the Park, please visit www.centennialpark.com or call 404.223.4090.

Prior to accepting the GWCCA position, Poe was director of the Dallas Convention Center where he started his career in 1972 as a part-time laborer. He was appointed General Manager of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando from 1979 to 1980 and found his way back to Dallas for the next 17 years holding several leadership positions in the center’s Event Services and Cultural Affairs departments. The convention center veteran was appointed to the position of executive director of Alabama’s Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in 1997, which he held for seven years until moving back to Dallas in 2004 to assume the director position for the next six years.

In his previous director position Poe had fiscal control of an annual budget in excess of $60 million and was responsible for the management of the Dallas Convention Center, Reunion Arena, Dallas Farmer’s Market, Union Station and the Office of Special Events.

“We are extremely pleased to have someone with the credentials, leadership and experience that Frank brings to the Georgia World Congress Authority,” said Bob Prather, GWCCA board chairman. “He is a welcome addition to our strong leadership team,” Prather added.

Poe will take over the executive director position that Dan Graveline held for 33 years. Graveline announced his retirement in late July and retired at the end of 2009.

Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park welcomed more than 6.4 million visitors in FY 2009. Those visitors directly injected over $1.4 billion new dollars into Georgia’s economy and generated $2.2 billion total economic impact as well as $171 million in new tax revenue.

“We are so pleased,” says GWCC General Manager Mark Zimmerman, “that Patrick has agreed to serve as assistant general manager of the Georgia World Congress Center. He brings exceptional experience to the position, and we look forward to his strong leadership at the helm of our day-to-day operations.”

Skaggs is relocating to Atlanta from Richmond, VA, where he has served as assistant general manager at the Greater Richmond Convention Center since July 2005. As AGM in Richmond, he managed the day-to-day operations of the convention center including event services, housekeeping, maintenance, safety and security, sales, marketing, public relations, finance, and human resources. He assisted in the development and administration of the facility’s operating and capital budgets and worked directly with department heads in developing departmental operating budgets and revenue projections.

“I am thrilled,” says Skaggs, “to join the Georgia World Congress Center team. It is an honor to work at a world-renowned facility with such a talented and hospitable staff.”

Skaggs earned his masters of science in sport administration with an emphasis in facility management from Florida State University as well as his bachelors of science in sport management with an emphasis in business from the university. Skaggs served in the Air Force for four years. He is a member of International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM). He and his wife have three children.

In order to become a state certified police force, the Authority’s public safety department had to meet 118 standards. The state of Georgia’s standards, which consists of liability issues and officer safety standards, is compiled and modeled after the national certification standards program.

“This is a very proud moment for the Georgia World Congress Center Authority,” Graveline said.  “This is a big-time accomplishment that started almost three years ago.  I’m very proud of this group and all the hard work Chief Shannon and his staff have done.”

Shannon was pleased to see his department’s hard work pay off with the state certification.

“We are very ecstatic to receive the certification,” Shannon said.  “It is a good step in the right direction of operating the department as a professional organization.”

In the state of Georgia there are over 1,200 agencies that are eligible for state certification.  The GWCCA is one of only 96 to receive such accolade. Benefits to being certified include: greater governmental and community support, recognition in the field for outstanding achievement, greater operational and administrative effectiveness and reduced liability potential.

The GWCCA is the only convention center in the United States that contains a fully-certified Public Safety Department.

“Our department is very unique,” Shannon said. ” We are a hybrid of law enforcement and security that provides safety and security to all patrons of Georgia World Congress Center Authority facilities.”

Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority — which includes the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park — ranks among the top four largest convention destinations in the country as well as one of the best sports and entertainment campuses in the world.