High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 1996 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, were a summer multi-sport event held in Atlanta, Georgia, United States from July 19 to August 4, 1996. The 1996 Olympics are often considered the largest in history, with a total of 10,318 athletes from 197 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), competing in 271 events in 26 sports.