Cortina d'Apezzo 1956 - Olympic Games Winners

Start:

26 Jan 1956

End:

05 Feb 1956

Countries:

Athletes:

821

Sports:

Events:

City:

Cortina d'Apezzo, Italy

In April 1949, at the 43rd session in Rome, the IOC chose among the applications of the four cities - Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy; Lake Placid, USA; Montreal, Canada and Colorado Springs, USA.
After the ballot, it was decided to assign the 1956 Winter Olympic games to Cortina d'Ampezzo with 31 votes against 7 for Montreal, 2 for Colorado Springs, and 1 for Lake Placid.

President Giovanni Gronchi officially opened the 7 Winter Olympic games 1956.
Despite one of the snowiest winters in the history of Europe, snow was scarce in the Dolomite Alps, where Cortina dAmpezzo is located, and Italian soldiers trucked it from higher up in the Alps.
For the first time, the Soviet Union competed at the Winter Olympic Games. Pavel KOLCHIN became the first non-Scandinavian medalist in cross-country, and the Soviet hockey team defeated Canada, five times winners of previous tournaments.
Anton SAILER of Austria won all three gold medals in Alpine skiing.
In Ski Jumping, the Finnish team introduced a new aerodynamic style - the arms held flat against the body rather than over the head in the diver's position.
For the first time, the Winter Olympic games were broadcasted to eight European countries.