The bicycle at the 1996 Olympic Games (9)

The Summer Olympic Games of the XXVI Olympiad were held in Atlanta in 1996. These games are also known as the Centennial Games because they took place exactly a century after the first modern Olympic Games in Greece in 1896. Atlanta was selected by the IOC on September 18, 1990, with 51 votes to 35 in the final round. The IOC's decision to award the Games to Atlanta was quite surprising. The reasoning was that Athens would not have enough time to adapt its infrastructure to new Games. In general, the Atlanta Games are not seen as particularly successful. Transportation between the various Olympic venues was sometimes completely gridlocked due to traffic jams. Financially, however, the Games were a success. This is due in part to the main sponsorship of Coca-Cola, whose headquarters are located in Atlanta. The Games were labeled by many as "too commercial." Cycling is one of the Olympic sports practiced at the Games. In Atlanta, there were three cycling categories: road cycling, track cycling, and mountain biking. Penrhyn, the northern Cook Island, marked the occasion of the centenary of the 1st Olympic Games being held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. New Zealand finished 8th in the 4000-meter Team Pursuit with Greg henderson, Brendon Cameron, Timothy Carswell en Julian Dean. Guyana is one of the countries participating in these Games and has issued, among others, these special “gold” and “silver” relief stamps. Guyana made its debut at the 1948 Summer Games. These sheets, with silver and gold prints, were also used for the Olympic Games with a 1996 print and the Olympic rings. Previously released in 1993 for the Tour de France and in 1994 for the Football World Cup. For the first time, professionals are also allowed to participate in cycling. The time trial is won by the five-time winner of the Tour de France Miguel Indurain. Liechtenstein showcases the development of the racing bicycle as part of the 100th anniversary of the Olympic Games. In the background, a black-and-white image from “then.” In the foreground, a track bike (fixed gear, no gears) with monohull-frame (one-piece frame). An aerodynamic helmet has also become indispensable. The 2000-meter Tandem Race is portrayed by Antigua & Barbuda with a bicycle that is (in my opinion) not of the correct era! The riders are not wearing helmets either! Antigua & Barbuda participated in the Olympic Games for the sixth time since 1976. The United Arab Emirates participated for the fourth time. For Aruba, it was the third participation with three participants, including cyclist Lucien Dirksz, who took part in the road race. Although Tanzania itself had no participants in the cycling category, they did issue a beautiful stamp clearly depicting a track race. Vietnam and Andorra, both countries have made a good choice to depict the modern bicycle on their stamps. Two bicycle stamps issued in the pre-Olympic year 1995 by Vietnam & Cambodia. Bermuda & Suriname In 2008, Bermuda participated in the Summer Games for the 16th time. Suriname participated with seven competitors, though not in the cycling category. Like many countries, they nevertheless issued an Olympic stamp. To conclude this edition, a reminder of 100 years of the Summer Olympic Games, the Centennial Games, this stamp from China. It is clearly noticeable that this Olympic anniversary has received much more attention in philately than all previous Summer Games. I still have over fifty unused issues for these 1996 Centennial Games. To keep an article from becoming TOO long, I have made a selection from the collection.

Dutch performances in Atlanta

Elsbeth Vink achieved 5th place in the Cross-country. Ingrid Haringa won Silver in the points race. She also won Bronze in the Sprint. Bart Brentjens won Gold in Cross-country. The Bicycle List