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In Oceania

The first time that the Games were held in Oceania.

Equestrian sports in Stockholm

To allow for the equestrian sports to be held and avoid the problem of quarantine for horses entering Australia, the Games took place in two different cities (Stockholm and Melbourne), in two different countries (Sweden and Australia), on two different continents (Europe and Oceania) and in two different seasons (June and November). This is the only time in the Games' hundred year existence that the unity of time and place, as stipulated in the Charter, has not been observed.

The two Germanys under one flag

The International Olympic Committee had a great political success in managing to bring together the two Germanys (East and West) within a combined team (EUA) competing under a black, red and yellow flag with the Olympic rings and with "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's IX Symphony as their anthem. This practice would take place for the following two editions of the Games.

All the Athletes parading together

The 1956 Games were also marked by an innovation in the Closing Ceremony. Upon the suggestion of John Ian Wing, a Chinese apprentice carpenter living in Australia, it was decided to let all the athletes parade together, rather than by country, as a symbol of world unity.

New technology

In fencing, the electric foil was introduced and in swimming, the semi-automatic, digital-display timing device appeared.

(Credit: IOC. Click here for further information.)