1996 Olympics

The 1996 Summer Olympics, officially known as the XXVI Olympic Games, simply known as Atlanta 1996, and also known as the Centennial Olympic Games, were an international multi-sport event that took place from 19 July to 4 August 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The centenary of the 1896 Celebration was marked by these Games, which were the fourth Summer Olympics hosted by the United States. They is also the first Summer and Winter Games since 1924 to be held in successive, even-numbered years, in a different year from a Winter Olympics, under a controversial IOC regulation adopted under 1994. Over 10,000 athletes from 197 National Olympic Committees competed in 26 sports with Olympic debuts in beach volleyball, mountain biking and softball, as well as new lightweight rowing and women's soccer disciplines. 24 countries made their Summer Olympic debut in Atlanta, including eleven former Soviet republics who competed for the first time as independent nations. The U.S. hosting dominated the medal count with a record 101 medals and the most gold and silver medals among all nations. The US has won the medal tally for the first time since 1984, and in a non-boycotted summer olympics for the first time since 1968. Notable performances during the competition included those of Andre Agassi — who became the first men's singles tennis player to match a Grand Slam career with an Olympic gold medal, Donovan Bailey — who set a new world record of 9.84 for the men's 100 metres, and Lilia Podkopayeva — who became the second gymnast to capture an individual event gold since winning the all-round title at the same Olympics. When Eric Rudolph detonated pipe bombs in Centennial Olympic Park on July 27 — a downtown park built to serve as a public focal point for the celebrations of the Games, killing 1 and injuring 111 — the celebrations were marred by violence. In 2003, Rudolph confessed to the attack and a series of subsequent abortion clinic and gay bar attacks, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He claimed the bombing was intended to protest the U.S. government's sanction of "abortion on demand" The Games made a profit, aided by monitoring income from sponsorship and broadcast distribution deals and relying, among other factors, on private assets (as opposed to significant public funding spent at subsequent Olympics). The Games received criticism because they were too marketable, as did other issues raised by Eu officials, such as access to food and transportation. The occurrence has had a significant impact on the city; the Centennial Olympic Park has helped revitalise the downtown area of Atlanta and has become a symbol of the legacy of the Olympics; the houses of the Olympic Village have since been used as a residence for schools in the area; and the Centennial Olympic Stadium has been redeveloped twice since the Olympics – first as the Turner. Then there was a flashback to the closing ceremonies of the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, starring the then IOC president, Juan Antonio Samaranch, who invited the athletes to attend Atlanta in 1996. The spirits then ascended in the northwest corner of the arena, each representing one of the colours of the Olympic rings. The spirits called the nations of the earth after blended music, which formed the Olympic rings, while the Atlanta youngsters formed the number 100. The official opener for the 1996 Olympics, called "Summon the Champions," was written by noted film score composer John Williams; this was his second overture for an Olympic game, the first one being "Olympic Fanfare and Theme," written for the 1984 Summer Olympics. Supported by Foster on the piano, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Centennial Chorus, Céline Dion performed the 1996 Olympics hit "The Magic of Light" by David Foster. Gladys Knight sang Georgia's official state song "Georgia on My Mind."