At the 1976 Central African Games, the athletics events were held at the Stade Omar Bongo in Libreville, Gabon from 30 June – 10 July.
There were no long-distance running or hurdles races for women and triple jump was a men-only event.
On the men's side, Denis Dakréo of Cameroon won both the 110 m and 400 m hurdles events, while on the women's side Gabon's Eulalie Mbourou scored a middle-distance double and Cameroon's Germaine Wonja won the shot put and discus throw events.
Among the other unbeaten men's games records established at the competition, Paul Ngadjadoum set 2.13 m in the high jump, Oumarou Poro managed 14.89 m in the shot put, Jean-Emmanuel Vanlier threw 49.04 m in the discus, and the Congolese 4 × 100 metres relay team won in a record 40.3 seconds.
Rhoda Idowu's winning long jump of 5.60 m was the only women's performance that stood as an all-time games record.