The Fifth (Winter) Olympic Games were held in 1956 in Cortina d'Ampezzo (Italy) from January 26 to February 5. 942 athletes took part in them, including 146 women, from 33 countries. This year, the USSR team made its debut at the Games (53 athletes), which radically changed the balance of power. In total, 245 competitions in 5 sports were held, the ski racing program was changed and expanded. So, instead of the 18 km race, ski races of 15 and 30 km took place. Women fought for gold in the 3x5 km relay.
Already in the 1920s and 1930s, Cortina d'Ampezzo was a fairly well-known winter sports center. Alpine skiing and skiing championships were held here. This resort town was also nominated for the Olympic Games in 1940.
By the beginning of the Games, the city was completely transformed. A beautiful modern stadium with 4-tiered stands was erected, a high-speed track for skaters was prepared. A new springboard (80 m) was also built - according to the participants in the competition, one of the best in the world.
For the first time this year, one of the athletes on behalf of all the participants in the Games took the Olympic Oath (this was done by the Italian Juliana Chenal-Minuzzo). The TV broadcast of such competitions was also conducted for the first time.
As already mentioned, the athletes of the USSR radically changed the balance of power in their favor. They have competed in all competitions except bobsleigh and figure skating. L. Kozyreva earned the first gold in the 10 km ski race for the Soviet Union, and the second and third places were also shared by Soviet skiers. In the relay, the Soviet team won silver, and then the Finnish skiers won. The first Olympic winners in history not from the Scandinavian countries were also our athletes - Pavel Kolchin contributed 3 awards to the USSR national team - 1 gold and 2 bronze medals.
In cross-country skiing for men, the struggle was relatively even. Norwegians, Finns, Swedes and athletes from the USSR received one highest award each. In ski jumping, the best was the Finn L. Hyvärinen (81 and 84 m), who practiced the new jumping technique, and S. Stenersen from Norway celebrated the victory in biathlon. Alpine skiing competitions were confidently dominated by the Austrian A. Sailer, having won all 3 types of competitions.
As for the main sensation of the VIII Winter Olympic Games, Soviet athletes presented it to the audience. The Norwegians, who were head and shoulders above all in 1952, were content with only two silver awards. Athletes from the USSR were better this time: this was proved by a new world record (40, 2 s) and E. Grishin's "gold" at a distance of 500 m, as well as two world records (and, of course, 2 gold medals) at a distance of 1500 m all the same Grishin and Yu. Mikhailov. The Olympic record at a distance of 5000 m was set by our B. Shilkov. The northerners celebrated the victory only once - at 10,000 m (1st place was taken by the Swede S. Erickson).
In bobsled (deuce), the Italians won silver and gold medals, the Swiss won gold medals in the fours, and Italy was content with the second place. In single figure skating, figure skaters from the United States became champions, in the pair program - from Austria.
The hockey players of the USSR national team confidently beat all their rivals and became champions of the Olympic Games, and the invincible Canadians were content with only 3rd place, letting the United States go ahead (they lost to the Americans 1: 4).
As a result, the USSR in the overall standings took the first line - 104 points and 16 medals (7-3-6), the second place was in Austria - 66, 6 points and 11 medals (4-3-4), the third place was in Finland - 57 points and 6 medals (3-3-1).
