1956 Winter Olympics facts for kids
The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially called the VII Olympic Winter Games, were held in 1956 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. These games were special because the USSR joined the Winter Olympics for the very first time. They made a big splash, winning more medals than any other country right away!
Countries Competing
A total of 32 countries sent their best athletes to Cortina d'Ampezzo. It was exciting because Bolivia, Iran, and the USSR were all new to the Winter Games. Some countries, like Korea, Liechtenstein, and Turkey, came back after not competing in the 1952 Winter Olympics.
However, Argentina, Denmark, New Zealand, and Portugal did not compete in 1956, even though they had been in the 1952 games.
A cool fact is that athletes from West Germany and East Germany competed together as the United Team of Germany. They continued this special arrangement for the next two Winter Olympics too!
 Olympic Games |
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| Summer Games: 1896, 1900, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1912, (1916), 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, (1940), (1944), 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028 |
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| Winter Games: 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, (1940), (1944), 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 | ||
| Athens 2004 — Turin 2006 — Beijing 2008 — Vancouver 2010 — London 2012 — Sochi 2014 — Rio 2016 — Pyeongchang 2018 — Tokyo 2020 Games in italics will be held in the future, and those in (brackets) were cancelled because of war. See also: Ancient Olympic Games |
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| Youth Olympic Games |
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| Summer Games: 2010, 2014, 2018 | ||
| Winter Games: 2012, 2016, 2020 |
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| Singapore 2010 — Innsbruck 2012 — Nanjing 2014 |
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Images for kids
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The Olympic torch of the 1956 Cortina Winter Games, carried by Olympic Champion Zeno Colò from Italy.
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The exciting opening ceremonies in 1956.
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U.S. pair Ash and Kothmann performing at the 1956 Winter Olympics.
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Sverre Stenersen on his way to winning the Nordic combined event.
Learn More
In Spanish: Juegos Olímpicos de Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 para niños
