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The Summer Olympics, 1956 happened at Melbourne in Australia. But equestrian events could not take place in Australia because of quarantine regulations. These events instead took place five months prior at Stockholm, Sweden. This was the first occasion when these Games were staged in Southern Hemisphere. This was also the first time when they were held outside North America and Europe.

These Olympics witnessed some amazing moments that stay forever in the memory of people. The United States athletes dominated the men’s track and field events. They won 15 out of the possible 24 events. Bobby Joe Morrow bagged the title in 100 meters and 200 meters events besides also winning the 4 x 100 meters relay.

Soviet Union’s Vladimir Kuts stole the limelight by winning 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters events. Ron Delaney of Ireland ran brilliantly particularly in the end of race and won the 1,500 meters event. The favorite to win this event Australia’s John Landy came third.

The 3,000 meters steeplechase event involved a controversy. Chris Brasher from Great Britain was little known earlier. He came well ahead in this race but judges disqualified him for interference with Norway’s athlete Ernst Larsen. Brasher made an appeal which got support from Larsen, Sandor Rozsnyoi as well as Heinz Laufer. There was reversal of the decision and Brasher won the gold.

Laszlo Papp from Hungary was exceptional in defeating Jose Torres and won the title in light-middleweight category of boxing. Murray Rose from Australia won three titles in swimming.

The Summer Olympics, 1928 were held at Amsterdam, Netherlands. This city had earlier bid for the 1920 as well as 1924 Olympics also but could not find success.

There were several remarkable moments at these Olympics. This was the first occasion when the Olympic Flame got lit at the Olympics. But the torch relay was started only in the Summer Olympics, 1936. Prince Hendrik, who was Queen Wilhelmina’s consort, officially opened these games. It was the first occasion when a head of state did not personally officiate at the opening ceremony of Olympics.

The athletics events took place on a track of 400 meters and this became a standard for the athletics tracks. For the first time a 16 days standard schedule was followed. Earlier the competition stretched over few months.

Johnny Weissmuller performed exceptionally in swimming winning two gold medals. He later featured in many Tarzan movies. Finland’s Paavo Nurmi bagged his final ninth gold medal in Olympics. He achieved this feat by winning the 10,000 meters race.

Percy Williams from Canada displayed his superb talent at these games. He won the 100 meters and 200 meters events to catch the attention of everybody. Uruguay showed their supremacy in football by retaining the title as they defeated Argentina.

India won their first gold ever in the field hockey. This began a winning streak of six gold medals in a row in this sport at Olympics. Germany came back to the Olympics after last appearing in 1912. It was banned for appearing in 1920 and 1924. This German contingent came second in the medal count at Amsterdam.

Edward Hamm of United States won the gold medal in the men’s long jump event. USA bagged gold medals in both the 4 × 100 meters as well as 4 × 400 meters men’s category relay events. Ray Barbuti also from USA won the title in 400 meters race. Paavo Yrjölä from Finland won the gold medal in decathlon. Douglas Lowe of Great Britain won the title in 800 meters race.

The Summer Olympics, 1960 was the multi-sport event that took place at Rome in Italy. Rome was earlier awarded the Summer Olympics, 1908 but due to the Mount Vesuvius eruption in 1906 they had to decline the organization of this event and the honor was passed to London.

There were many exceptional performances at the Rome Olympics, 1960. Soviet gymnasts were fabulous in these Games by winning 15 medals out of the possible 16 in the women’s gymnastics. Denmark’s Paul Elvstrøm captured the limelight in sailing by winning fourth consecutive gold medal in the Olympics in Finn class. There are only three others to match this feat in the individual event category – Carl Lewis, Al Oerter and Ray Ewry.

Hungary’s Aladár Gerevich maintained his dominance in fencing by winning sixth gold medal in a row in team saber competition. He won this event from 1932 to 1936 and from 1948 to 1960. Wilma Rudolph, who was a former patient of polio, won the title in three sprint events. Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila won the gold in the marathon event bare-footed.

Cassius Clay, who was later called Muhammad Ali, performed spectacularly and won the gold in the light-heavyweight category of boxing. The men’s gymnastics side of Japan won the gold. This was their first out of the five successive gold medals. The last out of these was won at Montreal in 1976.

The US men’s basketball team won fifth straight gold medal in Olympics. This team consisted of brilliant players like Walt Bellamy, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Jerry Lucas. Australia’s Herb Elliott displayed his dominance and won the 1500 meters title. Armin Hary ran 100 meters in a timing of 10.2 sec and won the gold.