The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1956 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The Soviet Union made its Winter Olympic debut and immediately showed its strength by winning more medals than any other nation. These were the first televised Winter Olympics.

Host city selection

Cortina d'Ampezzo bid against three cities for the 1956 Winter Olympics. The vote was staged at the 43rd IOC Session in Rome, Italy, on April 28, 1949.

Highlights of the Games

• In the Alpine Skiing Toni Sailer won all the events (Downhill, Slalom and the Giant Slalom).
• The USSR won the most medals of the Games, winning seven gold, three silver and six bronze medals.
• Speed skater Guido Caroli was the final torchbearer of the games. While skating onto the stadium, he tripped and fell over a television cable. Fortunately he was not hurt and the torch's flame didn't go out. He was able to get back on his feet and light the cauldron.

Medal winners

• Alpine skiing
• Bobsleigh
• Figure skating
• Ice hockey
• Nordic skiing
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Nordic combined
  • Ski jumping
• Speed skating

Participating nations

A total of 32 nations sent athletes to Cortina d'Ampezzo. Bolivia, Iran, and the USSR competed at the Winter Games for the first time. Korea, Liechtenstein, and Turkey returned after having missed the 1952 Winter Olympics. Argentina, Denmark, New Zealand, and Portugal did not compete at these Games, after having participated in 1952.

Athletes from West Germany (FRG) and East Germany (GDR) competed together as the United Team of Germany at these Games, an arrangement that would continue for the following two Olympiads.

Medal count

These are the top ten nations that won medals at these Games:

References

• International Olympic Committee ? Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 main page
• Cortina 1956 – official report, digitized copy online
• The program of the 1956 Cortina D'Ampezzo Winter Olympics

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