[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 28, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S6743]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 388--COMMEMORATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1996 
      SUMMER OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES HELD IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA

  Mr. OSSOFF (for himself, Mr. Romney, and Mr. Cassidy) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation:

                              S. Res. 388

       Whereas the city of Atlanta hosted the world during--
       (1) the 1996 Olympic Summer Games (referred to in this 
     preamble as the ``Summer Games'') from July 19, 1996, to 
     August 4, 1996; and
       (2) the 1996 Paralympic Games (referred to in this preamble 
     as the ``Paralympic Games'') from August 16, 1996, to August 
     25, 1996;
       Whereas the Summer Games and Paralympic Games honored the 
     centennial anniversary of the founding of the modern Olympic 
     Movement while creating a legacy of their own;
       Whereas Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic Cauldron at the Summer 
     Games Opening Ceremony, recognizing his Olympic success and 
     lifelong fight for racial justice;
       Whereas 10,320 athletes from 197 countries came together in 
     271 Summer Games events across 37 disciplines and 26 sports;
       Whereas the 1996 United States Olympic Team's largest 
     roster ever of 646 athletes finished first in the medal tally 
     for the first time since 1984 with 44 gold medals and 32 
     silver medals;
       Whereas over 2,000,000 people visited Atlanta during the 
     Summer Games, and nearly 3,500,000,000 people watched the 
     Summer Games from afar;
       Whereas over 3,500 athletes from 104 countries competed in 
     the Paralympic Games, and reminded the world that every 
     individual can compete regardless of their disposition;
       Whereas the Paralympic Games were the first Paralympic 
     Games--
       (1) to attract worldwide corporate sponsorships; and
       (2) be televised in the United States;
       Whereas over 380,000 individuals attended the Paralympic 
     Games, which were opened by Vice President Al Gore;
       Whereas 3,808 athletes from 104 countries came together in 
     508 Paralympic Games events across 20 sports;
       Whereas the 1996 United States Paralympic Team won the most 
     gold and overall medals;
       Whereas the Summer Games relied on the partnership of local 
     Atlanta-based businesses, leading to international 
     recognition and growth for those businesses;
       Whereas, on July 27, 1996, the people of Atlanta and other 
     United States citizens persevered in the face of a tragic 
     bombing at the Summer Games;
       Whereas the Summer Games and Paralympic Games created an 
     estimated 84,000 jobs in Atlanta during the Games and an 
     additional 293,000 jobs afterward;
       Whereas Centennial Olympic Park led a revitalization of 
     Downtown Atlanta, and is still a central gathering spot to 
     this day; and
       Whereas the success of the Summer Games and Paralympic 
     Games helped turn Atlanta into one of the world's leading 
     hosts for large-scale sporting events: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the contributions that were made by--
       (A) the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games;
       (B) the hundreds of Team USA athletes and the thousands of 
     international athletes who competed in the 1996 Summer 
     Olympic and Paralympic Games; and
       (C) the people, companies, and communities that made the 
     1996 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games possible;
       (2) recognizes that the 1996 Summer Olympic and Paralympic 
     Games left a lasting legacy in Atlanta, with many of the 
     venues from those Games still serving the community; and
       (3) commemorates the 25th anniversary of the 1996 Summer 
     Olympic and Paralympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia.

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