Number of participated countries -197
Sports disciplines - 26
Number of events - 271
Number of athletes -10320 (6797 men, 3523 - women)

The decision on holding of the XXVI Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta the city of the United States of America was taken in Tokyo Session of the International Olympic Committee held in1990. Atlanta Games coincided with the 100th anniversary of the modern Olympic Games. That event was depicted on the emblem of Atlanta Games. The composition Olympic symbol with a drawn line above located on 100 and represented a classic column in Greek style expressed the enormity of the Olympic Games. Our athletes for the first time had to participate at the Olympic Games under the flag of our independent country, and a name of Azerbaijan had be sounded for the first time in the opening ceremony in Atlanta Games. Accomplishments to be attained by our athletes in those games would be only of Azerbaijan.

Preparation works for the Atlanta Games in independent Azerbaijan began after the creation of the Ministry for Youth and Sport in 1994. On February of the year 1995 the President of the country Heydar Aliyev signed a decree on "Preparation for the XXVI Summer Olympic Games to be held in the city of the United States of America in Atlanta in 1996". According to this decree the Organising Committee was created. The Preparation period and qualification events finished. In accordance with gained licenses by the Azerbaijan athletes and received invitations 23 athletes would represent the country in Atlanta Games. Certainly it was possible to gain more licenses. However, it was an achievement to be represented by 23 athletes for the first time at the Olympic Games for our country that experienced five years of its independence.

In July 1996 President of the Republic had the meeting with Olympians in sport complex "Ganjlik" in Zagulba. President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev made a speech at the ceremony of seeing off. Speaking about Azerbaijan sports traditions, participation of our athletes at the Olympic Games as a members of the USSR national team he addressed to the athletes: "Your participation, i.e. participation of Azerbaijan Republic's team at the XXVI Olympic Games is a great event. Accomplishments with which you will return are the another side of the matter. The main thing is that you have gained right to represent Azerbaijan at the XXVI Olympic Games and you will participate at the world Olympic Games on behalf of Azerbaijani people. Every citizen of Azerbaijan will expect accomplishments of your participation there." At the end of his speech the Republican President said: "I am confident that you will fulfill tasks put before you with success, flag of Azerbaijan will be hoisted in Atlanta, you will elevate the honor of Azerbaijan Republic all over the world and will return with great accomplishments to the Motherland, country, home."

Then Nazim Husseinov winner of the Barcelona Olympic Games, Irada Hashimova prize winner of the World Championship on skeet shooting raised the state flag of Azerbaijan and the IOC flag. Namig Abdullayev two times European champion took an oath on decent representation of Azerbaijan at the Olympic Games.

The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games took place on July 4. In the ceremony of the opening Nazim Husseinov Olympic champion on judo carried flag of our Republic.

10788 athletes from 197 countries attended the Atlanta Games. They should hold fight for 271 medals in 26 spot events. Four athletes in athletics (Elvira Jabbarova, Arif Akhundov, Vasif Asadov, Alexey Fatyanov), two in Greco-Roman wrestling (Vilayet Agayev and Tahir Zakhidov), six in freestyle wrestling (Namig Abdullayev, Arif Abdullayev, Elshad Allahverdiyev, Mammadsalam Hajiyev, Mahammad Ibrahimov, Davud Maharramov), two judokas (Nazim Husseinov, Zulfiyya Husseinova), two boxers (Adalet Mammadov, llham Kerimov), two weight-lifters (Arif Melikov, Tofig Heydarov), fencers Elkhan Mammadov, swimmer Emin Guliyev, diver Emin Jabrayilov and skeet shooters Irada Hashimova and Sergey Timokhin represented Azerbaijan in Atlanta Games. Our athletes tried their strength in eleven sport disciplines included to the programme of the Olympic Games.

Nazim Husseinov judoka, champion of Barcelona Games was expected to perform with success. At least his opponents would meet with Olympic champion. However, it didn't happened as it was expected. Though our athlete performing in 60kg weight category won victory over Argentinean athlete in the first bout however, he lost the second bout to the athlete from Mexico, who was weaker. Our judoka having received caution several minutes before the end of the bout left tatami with defeat.

Zulfiyya Husseinova who for the first time participated at the Olympic Games repeatedly was the World and Olympic champion on sambo. However, there are considerable differences between judo and sambo competitions. Zulfiyya having lost the first bout with little difference in 56kg weight category held among women had to continue competition in consoling group. She won victory over Hungarian athlete Pekli Marian then she lost the bout to Belgian judoka. Notwithstanding Zulfiyya managed to become the seventh among the eight strong judokas in her weight category. Her first performance at the Olympic Games can be considered successful.

Atlanta Olympics was remarkable with debut of Azerbaijan boxing at the Olympic Games. From our two boxers llham Kerimov lost the bout to Swedish athlete in the first bout and left the competition. Our athlete Adalet Mammadov competing among heavy weight and +91 kg weight boxers held all his bouts on high level up to semifinal and could gain the positive attitude of spectators.

For the reaching the final Adalet met with Nigeran boxer. Adalet Mammadov having taken the superiority from the first minutes of the bout knocked his opponent out two times. Adalet usually holds the first minutes of the bout more active for this time he preferred to finish the bout before its time. However, he couldn't manage to carry out this tactics in the bout with Nigerian boxer. Nigerian athlete could take superiority and the bout was finished in his favor. Adalet Mammadov had to suffice with the 7th place.

In track and field events Elvira Jabbarova in 100m relay event showed 11,96sec result, Arif Jabbarov 11,11 sec. Vasif Asadov in triple jerk jump could show 16,21m result, Alexey Fatyanov 16,14m.

Irada Hashimova took the 10th place in small-bore pistol from 10m distance and 15th place form 25m distance shooting. Another our shooter participating in skeet shooting competitions Valery Timokhin sufficed with 38th place. Emil Jabrayilov became 37 among 27 athletes in 10m diving competitions.

Competitions on wrestling were held in the last days of the Olympic Games. Both of our athletes Tahir Zahidov and Vilayet Agayev wrestling in Greco-Roman style could not advance in group competitions. Six athletes represented Azerbaijan in freestyle wrestling competitions. From these athletes Arif Abdullayev, Elshad Allahverdiyev, Mammadsa-lam Hajiyev, Davud Mahammadov had to stop their performances in group competitions. Maha-mmad Ibrahimov performing in 82kg weight category became the 5th among first eight athletes.

Namig Abdullayev, two times European champion, paperweight wrestler of our team justified hopes pined on him. Namig showed high technical abilities and persistence. He won compete victory over USA athlete Low Rosselly, Japanese Sasayama Hideo, Uzbek Achilov Adhamjan, Iranian Gulamrza Mahammadli and reached the final. Strenuous fight took place among Bulgarian athlete lordanov and Namig in the final. The strenuous fight finished with lordanov's victory. Thus, Namig won silver medal. That was the second medal gained by the Azerbaijani wrestlers in freestyle wrestling at the Olympic Games and the first medal gained under the flag of independent of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani team represented with 23 athletes at the Atlanta Games took the 61st place among 197 countries. President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev received athletes returned the Motherland after the Olympic Games.