The , 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 .
- 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."
See the medal winners, ordered by sport:
(''Host nation in .'')
