The 1956 Winter Olympic Games were held in Corina d'Ampezzo, Italy, in 1956, between Jan 26-Feb 5. 32 Nations with 820 participants competed in 24 events.

Guido Caroli lights the Olympic brazier in Cortina 1956Guido Caroli lights the Olympic flame in Cortina 1956

Trivia

  • These were the first Winter Games to be televised.
  • At these Games the Soviet Union (USSR) participated in its first-ever Winter Olympics, and were able to take home the most medals, including the gold medal in ice hockey.
  • Toni Sailer of Austria became the first skier to sweep all three Alpine events.
  • The U.S. made a near clean sweep five of the six medals in individual figure skating, the lone exception being Austria's Ingrid Wendl's who won a bronze.