But I agree with what Comrade Sibboleth said above. There was a lot of controversy around Atlanta.
I think a lot of that stemmed from the perception that Atlanta was a minor city- equivalent to some remote village in sticks or somesuch silliness.
It's not just that. Many people thought Atlanta got it because Coca-Cola (a huge sponsor for the Olympics) is based in Atlanta. In addition to the bombing, people thought the Olympics were overcommercialized, and many athletes complained about the American crowds (for example, many gymnasts could not hear their floor music during their performances).