Approach of Games Measured in Leaps, Bounds--and a Billboard

Today begins the one-year countdown to the 1996 Summer Olympics at Atlanta.

Or does it?

Because 1996 is a leap year, there actually are 366 days to go before the July 19 opening ceremonies.

But who’s quibbling? Olympic officials have chosen today to celebrate with these events:

--Invitations will be issued from International Olympic Committee headquarters at Lausanne, Switzerland, to 197 countries.

--A billboard will be unveiled in New York’s Times Square that will count down the minutes until the opening ceremonies.

--The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra presents “An Olympic Tribute,” followed by fireworks, in the city’s Chastain Park.