BBC SPORT | HISTORY | Melbourne 1956

With the Australian government unwilling to change their animal quarantine period of six months, the horse-riding events for the Melbourne Games had to take place in Stockholm in June.

And the first ever south-of-the-equator Olympics posed problems for many athletes from Europe and America.

Acclimatisation was a problem and many competitors did not have sufficient funds to allow them to do this.

Travelling costs also saw the number of participants decrease and a number of nations also withdrew.

Vladimir Kuts took over from Emil Zatopek

Taiwan's participation saw China pull out, the Suez crisis ruled out Egypt and Lebanon, while Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland all withdrew in protest at the Soviet invasion of Hungary.

Political events even had a bearing on some competitions. A water polo match between Hungary and the USSR was abandoned because of the misconduct of some of the players.

Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina won four gold medals, and six in total, while home favourite Betty Cuthbert won three sprint golds in track and field.

Emil Zatopek retired after finishing sixth in the marathon and Soviet Vladimir Kuts took his titles in both the 5000m and 10,000m.




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