The Games of the XXVI Olympiad, held in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996, were special for several reasons. Also known as the Centennial Olympics, this quadrennial competition marked the 100th anniversary of the first modern games held in Athens, Greece in 1896. Several sports were introduced into the Olympics for the first time, including beach volleyball, mountain biking, softball, lightweight rowing, women’s swimming, women’s fencing, women’s association football, and team rhythmic dancing. Eleven former Soviet republics participated for the first time as independent nations. Because Atlanta is landlocked, it was decided…
