Venues of the 1956 Winter Olympics

Last updated

For the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, a total of eight sports venues were used. All of the venues used were new or rebuilt. To make use of television coverage for the first time in the Winter Olympics, the cross-country skiing stadium was constructed to allow the best coverage. Five of the venues used for these games would appear in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only twenty-five years later.

Contents

Venues

VenueSportsCapacityRef.
Apollonio Stadium Ice hockey 2,000 [1]
Pista Olimpica di Bob - Eugenio Monti Bobsleigh 4,650 [2]
La pista di Misurina Speed skating 8,550 [3]
Stadio Olimpico Del Ghiaccio Figure skating, Ice hockey (final)12,042 [4]
Lo Stadio della neve Nordic combined, Cross-country skiing 9,650 [5]
Mount Faloria (Ilio Colli Run) Alpine skiing (men's giant slalom) 7,920 [6]
Mount Tofana di Mezzo (Olimpia run) Alpine skiing (men's downhill) 9,830 [6]
Mount Tofana di Mezzo (Canalone run) Alpine skiing (women's downhill), (women's giant slalom) 6,760 [6]
Col Drusciè (A run) Alpine skiing (men's slalom), (women's slalom) 12,080 (men), 6,760 (women) [6]
Trampolino Olimpico Italia Ski jumping, Nordic combined (ski jumping)46,152 [7]

Before the Olympics

Cortina has been a tourist resort since the mid-1800s and quickly became internationally known due to frequent visits by European nobility. [8] Following World War I, Cortina emerged as a sports venue. The first World Championship hosted was the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in 1927. [9] The city would host the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships five years later. [10]

Bobsleigh was first introduced in Cortina in 1905 though the first track 1,200 m (3,900 ft) long would not be completed until eighteen years later. [2] It made its international debut in 1928 during the International University Winter Games (now part of the Winter Universiade). [2] The track would be rebuilt in 1936 to meet the standards of other tracks in St. Moritz, Switzerland and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. [2] It hosted it first Bobsleigh World Championships (FIBT) in 1937 in the two-man event. [11] The track was renovated again in 1948 after World War II where all of the turns were rebuilt and the track was lengthened to 1,700 m (5,600 ft) long and 16 turns. [2] World Championships between 1937 and the 1956 Games took place in 1939 (four-man), 1950, and 1954. [11] Cortina was awarded the 1944 Winter Olympics in 1939, but the games were cancelled due to World War II. [12]

During the Olympics

Lo Stadio della neve (English: The Snow Stadium) was one of the first venues constructed to meet the needs of television station RAI, Italy's national broadcaster. [5] The Stadium was constructed in an oblong 250 by 44 m (820 by 144 ft) area in an east-west direction with the Grand Stands facing south. [5]

Prior to the construction of La pista di Misurna (English: Misurna skating oval), the International Skating Union (ISU) had expressed concern over the upkeep, but after a test event the year before the 1956 Games, changed their minds. [3] A sports official for the ISU later stated that the track was easier to maintain than that of Davos, Switzerland even though the track was made of natural ice. [3]

After the Olympics

When Squaw Valley, California in the United States did not construct a bobsleigh track for the 1960 Winter Olympics, the track served as host for the bobsleigh World Championships in 1960. [11] The death of West German bobsledder Toni Pensperger at the FIBT World Championships 1966 during the four-man event forced the track to improve safety standards. [11] Another Bobsleigh World Championships would not take place until 1981. [11] During the 1981 championships, American bobsledder James Morgan was killed during the four-man event. [13] After Morgan's death, and the death of a stuntman during the filming of the James Bond 1981 film For Your Eyes Only , the track length was reduced to 1,350 m (4,430 ft) and 13 curves. [14] The track would host the Bobsleigh World Championships twice more in 1989 and 1999. [11] Following the death of Cortina native Eugenio Monti in December 2003, the track was renamed in Monti's honor. [15] In June 2007, the track was selected to host the 2011 world championships. The track withdrew their hosting of the 2011 championships in February 2009 due to issues with the city of Cortina over the track itself. [16] The bobsleigh track is current inactive, but can be re-activated when needed.

The ski jump was used as a World Cup venue six times between 1979 and 1985. [17] Its last World Cup competition in 1985 was won by Norway's Roger Ruud. [18] The last known competition of any kind at the jump took place in 1990. [19]

Stadio Olympica is open to the general public and also serves as home to SG Cortina's ice hockey team. [20] [21]

Cortina was first used as an alpine skiing World Cup event in 1981. It was an annual stop for women's alpine skiing from the 1992–93 to the 2008–09 seasons. [22]

Besides the bobsleigh track in For Your Eyes Only, other venues that appear in the movie are the ski jump, Tofane, Apollonino Stadium, and Stadio Olympica. [23]

The only venue to be demolished was the temporary Lo Stadio della neve with all other venues still existing or in use.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1956 Winter Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in Cortina dAmpezzo, Italy

The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games and commonly known as Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956, were a multi-sport event held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, from 26 January to 5 February 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cesana Pariol</span> 2006 Winter Olympics venue

Cesana Pariol was the venue for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. The track, built for the games, is located in Cesana. The venue holds approximately 7,130 spectators, of whom 3,624 are seated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eugenio Monti olympic track</span>

The Eugenio Monti Olympic Track was a bobsleigh and skeleton track located in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. It was named after Eugenio Monti (1928–2003), who won six bobsleigh medals at the Winter Olympic Games between 1956 and 1968 and ten medals at the FIBT World Championships between 1957 and 1966. It was featured in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, held after the 1981 FIBT World Championships, before the track was shortened to its current configuration. In January 2008, after one last bobsleigh race tournament, the track was closed.

The La Plagne bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track is a bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track located in La Plagne, France. The track was the venue for the bobsleigh and luge competitions for the 1992 Winter Olympics whose host city was neighboring Albertville.

For the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, United States, a total of five sports venues were used. This was unchanged from the previous games in St. Moritz. For the first time in the history of the Winter Olympics, an indoor venue was used for the figure skating and six of the twelve ice hockey events at the Olympic Arena. The first bobsleigh venue outside Europe was constructed for use. Four different 18 km and five different 50 km venues were submitted for approval prior to the Olympics. After the 1932 games, three of these venues served as host for their respective championships that were held outside Europe for the first time.

For the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, a total of six sports venues were used. Alpine skiing events took place for the first time and were held in three different locations. Riessersee held the speed skating and some of the ice hockey matches while the bobsleigh events took place south of the lake. The ski jump and its neighboring stadium played host to the cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, and ski jumping events. Even though figure skating and some of the ice hockey matches took place outdoors at the ice stadium, the ice itself was artificially refrigerated to prevent ice thawing.

For the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, a total of eight sports venues were used. The five venues used for the 1928 Winter Olympics were reused for these games. Three new venues were added for alpine skiing which had been added to the Winter Olympics program twelve years earlier in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. As of 2015, the bob run continues to be used for bobsleigh and the Cresta Run for skeleton while alpine skiing remains popular in St. Moritz.

For the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California, in the United States, a total of five sports venues were used. Except for the Palisades Tahoe, all of the venues had to be constructed. For the first time in Winter Olympic history, a temporary venue was constructed at McKinney Creek for biathlon, cross-country skiing, and Nordic combined. A bobsleigh track was not constructed over the guarantees from the FIBT not being able to field the minimum twelve teams needed to compete, making it the only time bobsleigh has not been included in the Winter Olympics.

For the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, a total of eight sports venues were used. Luge made its debut at these games, but were marred by the death of a British slider two weeks prior to the Games. A second ski jumping event debuted and the best two out of three jumps were used in both events for the only time in the history of the Winter Olympics. All eight venues would be used again when the Winter Games returned to Innsbruck twelve years later though the venues would undergo renovations in time for the 1976 Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venues of the 1980 Winter Olympics</span>

For the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, United States, a total of seven sports venues were used. All five of the venues used for the 1932 Winter Olympics were also used at the 1980 Winter Games with adjustments. These adjustments included electronic scoreboards, increased refrigeration, and the addition of a separate luge track. This was the last Winter Olympics where there were separate bobsleigh and luge tracks. The closest finish in Olympic history in cross-country skiing led skiing officials to time future events in hundredths of a second rather than tenths of a second. This would also apply to biathlon events. Eric Heiden won five gold medals at the speed skating oval while the "Miracle on Ice" took place between Americans and Soviets at the Olympic Center. In the late 1990s, the luge track was demolished and a new combination track was constructed in time for the only Winter Goodwill Games held. The sliding venue was named to the American National Register of Historical Places in February 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venues of the 1988 Winter Olympics</span>

For the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, a total of nine sports venues were used. Calgary tried twice to host the Winter Olympics in the 1960s without success before finally winning the 1988 Winter Games in 1981. Stampede Corral was built in 1950 while McMahon Stadium was built in 1960. When the National Hockey League (NHL) Flames franchise was relocated from Atlanta, Georgia in the United States during the summer of 1980, a new arena was needed. The Saddledome construction was underway in late 1981 when Calgary was awarded the 1988 Games. Completed in 1983, the Olympic Saddledome has played host to the Flames ever since, including three Stanley Cup Finals and the NHL All-Star Game in 1985. An innovation for the games was the first indoor long-track speed skating venue which has served as a model for future Olympics. The bobsleigh and luge track was the first combination track in North America and was noted for the Jamaican bobsleigh team crash during the four-man event. Both the Oval and the bobsleigh/luge track continue to host the World Championships in their respective sports since the 1988 Winter Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics</span>

Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026 was a successful bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics by the cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo and the Italian National Olympic Committee. The IOC selected Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo to host the 2026 Winter Olympics at the 134th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland on 24 June 2019.

References

  1. ↑ The Official Report of the Organising Committee of the VIIth Winter Olympic Games 1956 at Cortina. Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine (1956) Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). p. 133. Accessed 24 October 2010. (in English and Italian)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 The Official Report of the Organising Committee of the VIIth Winter Olympic Games 1956 at Cortina. Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine (1956) CONI. pp. 175-9, 191. Accessed 24 October 2010. (in English and Italian)
  3. 1 2 3 The Official Report of the Organising Committee of the VIIth Winter Olympic Games 1956 at Cortina. Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine (1956) CONI. pp. 180-88, 191. Accessed 24 October 2010. (in English and Italian)
  4. ↑ The Official Report of the Organising Committee of the VIIth Winter Olympic Games 1956 at Cortina. Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine (1956) CONI. pp. 124-32, 191. Accessed 24 October 2010. (in English and Italian)
  5. 1 2 3 The Official Report of the Organising Committee of the VIIth Winter Olympic Games 1956 at Cortina. Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine (1956) CONI. pp. 155-63, 191. Accessed 24 October 2010. (in English and Italian)
  6. 1 2 3 4 The Official Report of the Organising Committee of the VIIth Winter Olympic Games 1956 at Cortina. Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine (1956) CONI. pp. 165-79, 191. Accessed 24 October 2010. (in English and Italian)
  7. ↑ The Official Report of the Organising Committee of the VIIth Winter Olympic Games 1956 at Cortina. Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine (1956) CONI. pp. 137-55, 191. Accessed 24 October 2010. (in English and Italian)
  8. ↑ Cortina History Archived 2013-11-27 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 1 December 2013
  9. ↑ FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Cortina d'Ampezzo 2-5 February 1927 results. Accessed 24 October 2010.
  10. ↑ FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Cortina d'Ampezzo 1 February 1932. Accessed 24 October 2010.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 FIBT.com Men's World Championships and Olympic Games: 1924-2007 results. Archived 2012-09-21 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 24 October 2010.
  12. ↑ The Official Report of the Organising Committee of the VIIth Winter Olympic Games 1956 at Cortina. Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine (1956) CONI. p. 80. Accessed 24 October 2010. (in English and Italian)
  13. ↑ Sports-reference.com profile of James Morgan. Accessed 24 October 2010.
  14. ↑ FIBT track profile of Cortina d'Ampezzo. Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 24 October 2010.
  15. ↑ Bob Club Cortina official website. Archived 2012-02-10 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 24 October 2010.
  16. ↑ Königssee to Host 2011 FIBT World Championship at the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (28 February 2009 accessed 24 October 2010.)
  17. ↑ FIS Ski jumping World Cup information on Cortina d'Ampezzo. Accessed 24 October 2010.
  18. ↑ FIS Ski Jumping World Cup Cortina d'Ampezzo men's individual normal hill results. Archived 2012-10-21 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 24 October 2010.
  19. ↑ Skisprungschanzen profile of the Cortina ski jump. [ permanent dead link ] Accessed 24 October 2010. (in German)
  20. ↑ Dolomiti.org profile of the ice stadium. Archived 2010-07-07 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 24 October 2010. (in Italian)
  21. ↑ S.G. Cortina official website. Archived 2015-02-23 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 24 October 2010. (in Italian)
  22. ↑ FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup history of Cortina d'Ampezzo. [ permanent dead link ] Accessed 24 October 2010.
  23. ↑ Movie-locations.com profile of For Your Eyes Only. Archived 2010-11-26 at the Wayback Machine 23 March 2009 article accessed 24 October 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.