Melbourne-Stockholm (1956)
The 1956 Summer Olympics were held in Melbourne, Australia, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations. Instead, those events were held five months earlier in Stockholm, Sweden, marking the second time that events of the same Olympics were held in different countries. (At the 1920 Summer Olympics in the Antwerp, Belgium, one sailing event had been held in Dutch waters). The 1956 Games were the first to be staged in the Southern Hemisphere.
Interesting Facts
- Hungary and the Soviet Union were both present at the Games, which among others led to a hotly contested and violent water polo encounter between the nations.
- Athletes from both East and West Germany competed in a combined team. This remarkable combination would disappear at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
- Australian athlete 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 5000m and 10000m.
- 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.
- Laszlo Papp defended his light-middleweight boxing title.
- Ronnie Delaney won gold for Ireland in the 1500m final. It is the last gold medal Ireland have won in a track event.
- The India national field hockey team team won its sixth consecutive gold