What were the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games?

The Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, held from July 19 to August 4, were the 23rd modern Olympic Games. Atlanta was chosen over Athens to host the Centennial Summer Games and staged one of the most extravagant Games in Olympic history. The Games relied on corporate sponsors and television rights to cover the nearly $1.7 billion cost, marking the first time they received no governmental financial support. A pipe bomb explosion in Centennial Olympic Park resulted in one death. All invited national Olympic committees (NOCs) competed, and a record 197 NOCs sent over 10,000 contestants. The Games featured 271 events, with women’s soccer, beach volleyball, and mountain biking making their debut. Standout athletes included Carl Lewis, who won his ninth gold medal, and Fu Mingxia, who won both women’s diving events.

Why were the 1996 Olympic Games important?

The 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, were significant for several reasons:

What were some memorable moments or achievements from these Games?

The Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games marked the debut of women’s soccer, beach volleyball, lightweight rowing, women’s softball, and mountain biking. All invited national Olympic committees participated for the first time, with a record of 197 sending over 10,000 contestants. Carl Lewis won his ninth gold medal in track and field, and Fu Mingxia won both women’s platform and springboard diving events. Michael Johnson and Marie-José Pérec swept the 200-meter and 400-meter sprints in the men’s and women’s competitions, respectively. The U.S. women’s gymnastics team also won, while Lilia Podkopayeva of Ukraine dominated the individual contests.

How did hosting the Olympics affect the city of Atlanta?

The 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games had both positive and negative impacts on the city. Atlanta's selection to host the Centennial Summer Games led to one of the most extravagant Olympic Games in history. The Games, which cost nearly $1.7 billion, were marked by a "country fair" atmosphere, but were criticized by some for excessive commercialization. The Games relied on corporate sponsors and television rights to cover costs, as it received no governmental financial support. While the Olympics can act as an impetus to address a host city’s needs, the Atlanta Games also experienced transportation and accommodation problems, as well as a pipe bomb explosion in Centennial Olympic Park, which resulted in one death.

Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games

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Images & Videos

Yanyan Wu of China swimming freestyle during the women's 200 meter individual medley at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, wearing goggles and a white swim cap.

Michael Johnson smiles and holds an American flag behind him while celebrating on the track after setting a world record in the 200-meter race at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Olympic medals hang against a blurry background.

Karch Kiraly of the United States, wearing a pink cap and navy uniform, lunges in the sand to hit the volleyball during the 1996 Olympic beach volleyball semifinals in Atlanta.

Naim Suleymanoglu of Turkey, wearing a blue singlet, lifts a loaded barbell overhead during the 64 kg weightlifting event at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.

Quick Facts

Date:: July 19, 1996 - August 4, 1996

Location:: Atlanta; Georgia; United States

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Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games

Also known as: Games of the XXVI Olympiad

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History

Top Questions

What were the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games?
The Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, held from July 19 to August 4, were the 23rd modern Olympic Games. Atlanta was chosen over Athens to host the Centennial Summer Games and staged one of the most extravagant Games in Olympic history.

The Games relied on corporate sponsors and television rights to cover the nearly $1.7 billion cost, marking the first time they received no governmental financial support. A pipe bomb explosion in Centennial Olympic Park resulted in one death.

All invited national Olympic committees (NOCs) competed, and a record 197 NOCs sent over 10,000 contestants. The Games featured 271 events, with women’s soccer, beach volleyball, and mountain biking making their debut. Standout athletes included Carl Lewis, who won his ninth gold medal, and Fu Mingxia, who won both women’s diving events.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Where were the 1996 Olympic Games held?
The 1996 Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, were held in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. from July 19 to August 4. Atlanta was selected over Athens to host the Centennial Summer Games and staged one of the most extravagant Games in Olympic history. The official mascot was Whatizit, or Izzy, an abstract fantasy figure. For the first time, all invited National Olympic Committees sent athletes, with a record of 197 NOCs and over 10,000 contestants.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Olympic Games: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., 1996
2. Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Why were the 1996 Olympic Games important?
The 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, were significant for several reasons:
- Centennial Celebration Atlanta was selected to host the Centennial Summer Games.
- Record Participation All invited National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated, including former Soviet republics, with a record 197 NOCs and over 10,000 contestants.
- New Events Women’s football (soccer), beach volleyball, lightweight rowing, women’s softball, and mountain biking debuted.
- Commercialization The Games were privately funded through corporate sponsors and television rights, leading to claims of excessive commercialization.
- Security Concerns Despite precautions, a bomb explosion occurred in Centennial Olympic Park.
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Which countries took part in the Atlanta 1996 Olympics?
The 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games marked the 23rd modern Olympic Games. All invited National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated, sending athletes for the first time. This included former Soviet republics, Burundi, North Korea, the Palestinian Authority, and Hong Kong, which won its first and last gold medal before reuniting with China in 1997.

A record 197 NOCs sent over 10,000 contestants. The United States, Germany, Russia, China, and Australia won the most medals.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Olympic Games: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., 1996
2. Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What were some memorable moments or achievements from these Games?
The Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games marked the debut of women’s soccer, beach volleyball, lightweight rowing, women’s softball, and mountain biking. All invited national Olympic committees participated for the first time, with a record of 197 sending over 10,000 contestants.

Carl Lewis won his ninth gold medal in track and field, and Fu Mingxia won both women’s platform and springboard diving events. Michael Johnson and Marie-José Pérec swept the 200-meter and 400-meter sprints in the men’s and women’s competitions, respectively. The U.S. women’s gymnastics team also won, while Lilia Podkopayeva of Ukraine dominated the individual contests.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Olympic Games: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., 1996
2. Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did hosting the Olympics affect the city of Atlanta?
The 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games had both positive and negative impacts on the city.

Atlanta's selection to host the Centennial Summer Games led to one of the most extravagant Olympic Games in history. The Games, which cost nearly $1.7 billion, were marked by a "country fair" atmosphere, but were criticized by some for excessive commercialization. The Games relied on corporate sponsors and television rights to cover costs, as it received no governmental financial support.

While the Olympics can act as an impetus to address a host city’s needs, the Atlanta Games also experienced transportation and accommodation problems, as well as a pipe bomb explosion in Centennial Olympic Park, which resulted in one death.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, athletic festival held in Atlanta that took place July 19–August 4, 1996. The Atlanta Games were the 23rd occurrence of the modern Olympic Games.

Selected over Athens to host the Centennial Summer Games, Atlanta staged one of the most extravagant Games in Olympic history. With a five-hour opening ceremony and the creation of a “country fair” atmosphere complete with booths, amusement park rides, and concerts, the 1996 Olympics cost nearly $1.7 billion. For the first time, the Games received no governmental financial support. Instead, corporate sponsors—including Coca-Cola, which supplied more than $300 million—and television rights were relied upon to defray costs. The result, many claimed, was excessive commercialization, and few believed that a privately funded Games would be held in the future. The Games also experienced transportation and accommodation problems, and, though extra security precautions were taken, a pipe-bomb explosion in Centennial Olympic Park caused one death. The perpetrator, American Eric Rudolph, also later bombed a gay night club in 1997 and an abortion clinic in 1998. He was sentenced to multiple terms of life imprisonment in 2005.

Most medals by country

United States: 101
Germany: 65
Russia: 63
China: 50
Australia: 41

Note: Medal count per the IOC website.

For the first time, all national Olympic committees (NOCs) invited to compete sent athletes, including each of the former Soviet republics, Burundi, North Korea, the Palestinian Authority, and Hong Kong, which won its first (and last) gold medal before its reunification with China (1997). A record 197 NOCs sent more than 10,000 contestants. The number of events reached 271 as women’s football (soccer), beach volleyball, lightweight rowing, women’s softball, and mountain biking (cross-country cycling) made their debuts.

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Silhouette of hand holding sport torch behind the rings of an Olympic flag, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; February 3, 2015.

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Michael JohnsonAmerican sprinter Michael Johnson after setting a world record in the 200 meters at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Standouts at the Atlanta Games included Carl Lewis (U.S.), who won his ninth gold medal in track and field, and Fu Mingxia (China), who won the women’s platform and springboard diving events. The 200-meter and 400-meter sprints were swept in the men’s and women’s competitions by Michael Johnson (U.S.) and Marie-José Pérec (France), respectively; Svetlana Masterkova (Russia) won the 800- and 1,500-meter titles.

Women’s swimming was dominated by Michelle Smith (Ireland). Her three gold medals, however, came amid rumors of drug use. In the men’s events three swimmers each captured two individual gold medals: Aleksandr Popov (Russia), Danyon Loader (New Zealand), and Denis Pankratov (Russia). In women’s gymnastics the team event was won by the surprising U.S. squad, while the individual contests were dominated by Lilia Podkopayeva (Ukraine), who won two gold medals and one silver, including the title in the all-around. Aleksey Nemov (Russia) was the standout in the men’s gymnastics competition. His six medals, including two gold, were the most won at the 1996 Games. The top medal-winning athletes are listed below.

athlete	country	sport	gold	silver	bronze	total
1. Alexsey Nemov	Russia	gymnastics	2	1	3	6
2. Amy Van Dyken	U.S.	swimming	4	0	0	4
3. Michelle Marie Smith	Ireland	swimming	3	0	1	4
4. Alexander Popov	Russia	swimming	2	2	0	4
4. Gary Hall, Jr.	U.S.	swimming	2	2	0	4
6. Simona Amanar	Romania	gymnastics	1	1	2	4
7. Jenny Thompson	U.S.	swimming	3	0	0	3
7. Josh Davis	U.S.	swimming	3	0	0	3
9. Denis Pankratov	Russia	swimming	2	1	0	3
10. Liliya Podkopaieva	Ukraine	swimming	2	1	0	3

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Mindy Johnston.

Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games

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