1956 Summer Olympics

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Template:Olympics infobox The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were held in 1956 in Melbourne, Australia, although the equestrian events could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations. Therefore, these events were held in Stockholm, Sweden, marking the first time that events of the same Olympics were held in different countries. Melbourne had been elected as the host city over rival bids from Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and six American cities April 28 1949 on the 43rd IOC session.

1 Highlights
2 Medals awarded
3 Medal count
4 See also
5 External links

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Highlights

Because Melbourne is in the southern hemisphere, the Olympics were held later in the year than former Olympics held in the northern hemisphere. The dates fitted the southern hemisphere season.
Two international events led to nations boycotting the Olympics. The first was the British and French involvement in the Suez Crisis, which led to the absence of Egypt, Lebanon, and Iraq. The Soviet handling of the Hungarian revolution led to the absence of Spain, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Hungary and the Soviet Union were themselves present, which among others led to a hotly contested and violent water polo encounter between the nations. In total, 45 Hungarians defected to the West after the Olympics. A third boycott came from the People's Republic of China, which protested against presence of the Republic of China (under the name Formosa).
Athletes from both East and West Germany competed in a combined team. This remarkable combination would disappear at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Australian runner Betty Cuthbert became the "Golden Girl" by winning three track gold medals. Her performance was equalled by sprinter Bobby Joe Morrow.
Another Australian, Murray Rose, won three gold medals in swimming.
Soviet runner Vladimir Kuts won both the 5000 and 10000 m.
Inspired by Australian teenager John Wing, an Olympic tradition began when athletes of different nations are allowed to parade together at the closing ceremony, instead of with their national teams, as a symbol of world unity.

During the Games there will be only one nation. War, politics and nationalities will be forgotten. What more could anybody want if the world could be made one nation.
—Extract from a letter by John Ian Wing to the Olympic organisers, 1956

The games were nicknamed "the Friendly Games."

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Medals awarded

See the medal winners, ordered by sport:

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Medal count

(Host nation in bold.)

1956 Summer Olympics medal count					Image:Olympic rings.svg
Pos	Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg USSR	37	29	32	98
2	Image:Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States	32	25	17	74
3	Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia	13	8	14	35
4	Image:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary	9	10	7	26
5	Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy	8	8	9	25
6	Image:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden	8	5	6	19
7	Image:Flag of Germany-1960-Olympics.svg United Team of Germany	6	13	7	26
8	Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain	6	7	11	24
9	Image:Romania flag 1947-1989.png Romania	5	3	5	13
10	Image:Flag of Japan.svg Japan	4	10	5	19
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