The 1996 Summer Olympics were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. These were the fourth Summer Olympics to be hosted by the United States, making it the first country to have three different cities host the Summer Olympics. It also marked the 100th anniversary of the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, the inaugural edition of the modern Olympic Games. These were also the first Summer Olympics to be held in a different year than the Winter Olympics since the Winter Olympics commenced in 1924, as part of a new IOC practice implemented in 1994 to hold the Summer and Winter Games in alternating, even-numbered years. The 1996 Games were the first of the two consecutive Summer Olympics to be held in a predominantly English-speaking country, preceding the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. These were also the last Summer Olympics to be held in North America until 2028, when Los Angeles will host the games for the third time.
Great Britain, represented by the British Olympic Association (BOA), competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. British athletes have competed in every Summer Olympic Games. 310 competitors, 181 men and 129 women, took part in 179 events in 23 sports. These were the first Summer Olympics in which the team of selected athletes was officially known as Team GB in a highly successful attempt to unify all the competing athletes across all the sports and events and boost team morale. Going into the games following their exceptionally poor performance in Atlanta widespread expectations of the team were low.
France competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. 299 competitors, 197 men and 102 women, took part in 183 events in 25 sports.
Ukraine competed in the Summer Olympic Games as an independent nation for the first time at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. Previously, Ukrainian athletes competed for the Unified Team at the 1992 Summer Olympics. 231 competitors, 146 men and 85 women, took part in 148 events in 21 sports.
India competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. Leander Paes' bronze in the men's tennis event was the only medal won by the country. It had been 44 years since an Indian last won an individual medal at the Olympics. The medal was also India's first since their men's hockey team won gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Subash Razdan, a prominent Indian American community leader in Atlanta was appointed Attache for India by the Indian Olympic Association. He also served as the acting chef-de-mission for the Indian contingent.
Poland competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. 165 competitors, 126 men and 39 women, took part in 126 events in 20 sports.
Estonia competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States, its seventh appearance at the Games and second entry since the breakup of the Soviet Union. 43 competitors, 35 men and 8 women, took part in 36 events in 13 sports.
Belarus competed in the Summer Olympic Games for the first time as an independent nation at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. Previously, Belarusian athletes competed for the Unified Team at the 1992 Summer Olympics. 157 competitors, 91 men and 66 women, took part in 115 events in 19 sports.
The Netherlands competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.
Indonesia competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.
Azerbaijan competed in the Summer Olympic Games as an independent nation for the first time at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. Previously, Azerbaijani athletes competed for the Unified Team at the 1992 Summer Olympics. 23 competitors, 20 men and 3 women, took part in 23 events in 9 sports.
Armenia competed in the Summer Olympic Games for the first time at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. Previously, Armenian athletes competed for the Unified Team at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
El Salvador competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, from 19 July to 4 August 1996. This was the nation's sixth appearance at the Olympics.
Canada has competed at 28 Summer Olympic Games, missing only the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics and the boycotted 1980 Summer Olympics. This count includes the 1906 Olympic Games, deemed unofficial 43 years after they were held. The nation made its debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics. Canada competes under the IOC country code CAN.
The Solomon Islands sent a delegation to compete at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States from 19 July to 4 August 1996. This was the nation's fourth appearance at a Summer Olympic Games. The delegation to Atlanta consisted of four athletes, three in track and field: Selwyn Kole, Primo Higa, and Nester Geniwala'a; and one in weightlifting: Tony Analau. None of the athletes made their event final.
Saint Kitts and Nevis competed in the Olympic Games for the first time at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. The country sent ten athletes to compete, all in the sport of athletics. None of the athletes received a medal.
The former State Union of Serbia and Montenegro was represented at the Olympic Games on six occasions between 1996 and 2006, when the union was dissolved and Montenegro and Serbia each declared full independence.
Georgia competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was a list of results of all athletes who qualified for the Olympics and were nominated by the Georgian National Olympic Committee. A total of 35 athletes, 29 men and 6 women, competed in 11 sports, tying the record for the most athletes with Beijing. Among the sports played by the athletes, Georgia marked its Olympic debut in tennis.
The African island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, held from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's fifth appearance at the Olympics since its debut in 1996. Two track and field athletes, Christopher Lima da Costa and Lecabela Quaresma were selected to the team by wildcard places, without having qualified at any sporting event. Quaresma was selected as flag bearer for the opening and closing ceremonies. Neither of the two athletes progressed beyond the first round of their respective events.
The 100 metres at the Summer Olympics has been contested since the first edition of the multi-sport event. The men's 100 metres has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since 1896. The 100 metres is considered one of the blue ribbon events of the Olympics and is among the highest profile competitions at the games. It is the most prestigious 100 metres race at an elite level and is the shortest sprinting competition at the Olympics – a position it has held at every edition except for a brief period between 1900 and 1904, when a men's 60 metres was contested.
Russian Empire (1900–1912)
Soviet Union (1952–1988)
Unified Team (1992)
