The 83rd Tour de France was won by Bjarne Riis from Herning, Denmark.

Gladys Knight sang "Georgia on My Mind", Georgia's official state song, at the opening ceremony for the 1996 Summer Olympics.

The Olympic cauldron was lit by former boxing champion Muhammad Ali to open the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga.

The Islanders versus the Bruins open the Fleet Center (which will become TD Garden) in Boston the NHL game ended in a 2-2 tie.

Pitcher Greg Maddux of the Atlanta Braves set a Major League record with his 17th consecutive road victory in a 6-1 triumph over the Reds.

President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore attend Cal Ripken's 2,131 game and become first to attend a game together while in office.

The Jaguars played its first regular season game at home , they suffered a 10–3 loss against the Houston Oilers.

Frank Bruno defeated Oliver McCall at Wembley Stadium, London, England to win the WBC heavyweight title.

Mike Tyson vs. Peter McNeeley was billed as "He's Back", it marked the return of Mike Tyson to professional boxing after over four years away due to his 1991 arrest, Tyson won easily.

Detroit Lions Mel Gray passed Ron Smith to become the all-time NFL leader in kickoff return yards.