1956 Winter Olympics

The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games, were held in 1956 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This was the first time the Soviet Union played in the Olympics. They immediately showed their strength by winning more medals than any other nation.

VII Olympic Winter Games

Host city	Cortina d'Ampezzo, Veneto, Italy [1]
Nations	32
Athletes	821 (687 men, 134 women)
Events	24 in 4 sports (8 disciplines)
Opening	26 January
Closing	5 February
Opened by	President Giovanni Gronchi
Cauldron	Guido Caroli
Stadium	Stadio Olimpico Del Ghiaccio
Winter
← Oslo 1952 Squaw Valley 1960 →
Summer
← Helsinki 1952 Melbourne 1956 →

Participating nations

A total of 32 nations sent athletes to Cortina d'Ampezzo. Bolivia, Iran, and the Soviet Union 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 participating 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 next two Olympiads.