1996 Paralympic Games Envelope

On May 2, 1996, the U.S. Postal Service released a 32-cent stamped envelope featuring the Paralympics "Starfire," the logo of the Paralympic Games. First day of issue ceremonies were held in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with the release of the sheet of 20 different Olympic sports stamps.

Held from August 15 to 25 under the sponsorship of the International Olympic Committee, the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games hosted more than 3,500 athletes -- making it is second-largest sporting event in the world (roughly one-third the size of the Olympic Games). For ten days, athletes from more than 100 nations participated in 17 sporting events, 14 of which also were Olympic events.

Competitors in the Paralympic Games are elite athletes with physical, visual or mental impairments, representing four international federations: Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association; International Blind Sports Association; International Stroke-Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation; and the International Sports Organization for the Disabled.

The guiding principle behind the Paralympic Games is that these world-class athletes should have opportunities and experiences equivalent to those afforded non-disabled athletes. In order to compete in the Paralympics, each athlete must meet strict qualifying standards and be selected to his or her national team.

The first Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960 and have been held every Olympic year since, usually in the city or country hosting the Olympic Games.

(c) Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University of Georgia

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