The 1996 Olympics by RobinJRichards

The "most exceptional" comment mentioned above was made by THIS IOC PRESIDENT during the Closing Ceremony. He received many a "bless your heart" for years after that.

THIS MASCOT was likened to Smurf sperm after his debut in Barcelona. Even a name change didn't help. He was quietly led away before the Games ended, most likely to avoid the angry mobs. (A running joke was that the blue line for the Marathon was where his ass was dragged out of town.)

THIS GYMNAST, with a bum ankle, nailed a vault jump to secure the US Team Gold Medal. In retrospect it was discovered she didn't have to vault in the first place but what kinda of a feel good Olympic story would that be?

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THIS SINGER sang the official theme song of the Atlanta Games, "The Power of the Dream," during the opening ceremony. The live version became popular on Atlanta radio that summer but never charted anywhere except Japan of all places (#30).

THIS MAN was initially accused of being the Olympic Park bomber, as he was the interestingly enough the first person to find the bomb. While later exonerated, his career was pretty much ruined after that.

THIS AFRICAN NATION won the Men's soccer gold medal game, played (and witnessed by the author) in Athens at Sanford Stadium. They defeated Argentina 3-2.

Within 500 either way, how many athletes took part in the 1996 Olympics?

Atlanta won the Olympics (on the final ballot) over THIS CITY which many thought would win it for sentimental reasons. They got their chance 8 years later.

Four STADIA outside the state of Georgia hosted preliminary soccer games. Name any ONE.

THIS SONG by John Williams was the official anthem of the Atlanta Games. NBC still uses it in their Olympic coverage.

The swimming venue was built as a covered open air pavilion on the campus of THIS ATLANTA INSTITUTE OF HIGHER LEARNING. It has since been enclosed and is now the site of the GHSA state swimming championships.

During the opening ceremony, 30 chrome plated of THESE OBJECTS were paraded out on to the field at Olympic Stadium, much to the chagrin of international visitors.

Lilia Podkopayeva, representing THIS NATION (in its Summer Olympics debut as an independent nation), won the Women's artistic individual all-around Gold.

THIS TENNIS PLAYER recorded his only (and the first ever in history) Men's Singles Career Golden Slam in 1996. His later wife, Steffi Graf, was the first for Women's Singles.

THIS BRITISH TERRITORY won its only Olympic medal ever in Sailing off the coast of Savannah. Less than a year later, its flag and anthem changed.

THIS RUNNER won his only individual Gold Medal in the 100m with a then record time of 9.84 seconds, thus bringing honor back to Canadian runners.

Billy Payne, the man whose dream of bringing the Olympics to Atlanta became reality, is currently the chairman of THIS EXCLUSIVE SPORTS VENUE.

**Excluding the answer to Q8, and of course, Atlanta** four other cities also bid for the Centennial Olympic Games. Name any of them.

Within 3 either way, how many Gold medals did the US win at the 1996 Games?

**FIRST AND LAST NAME NEEDED** THIS AMERICAN (and his trademark gold spikes) won gold in both the 200 m and 400 m, setting a new world record of 19.32 seconds in the 200 m. He's still the only man to win both events in the same Olympics.