BBC SPORT | HISTORY | Atlanta 1996

Not even a terrorist bomb that went off in Centennial Park and left two people dead and more than 100 injured could overshadow the success of the Atlanta Games.

Chosen ahead of Athens to host the Games that celebrated the centenary of the modern Olympic movement, Atlanta proved to be a fitting venue.

The Olympic flame was movingly lit by Muhammad Ali, and when the competition got underway there were some outstanding performances.

America's Michael Johnson achieved a 200m and 400m double that included a 200m world record of 19.32 seconds.

The Olympic flame was lit by Muhammad Ali

Carl Lewis picked up his ninth Olympic gold, spread over four Games by winning the long jump.

Britain's Steve Redgrave won his fourth gold in successive Games and led to him being hailed by many as Britain's greatest ever Olympian.

But defending 100m champion Linford Christie was disqualified after two false starts leaving Canada's Donovan Bailey to take his crown in a new world record of 9.84 seconds.




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