Saturday, March 7, 2026

These Photos Show What Cortina’s First Winter Olympics Looked Like 70 Years Ago

The 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo were a far cry from the gigantic global sporting spectacle the Italian mountain town will co-host alongside Milan in 2026.Archive photographs from Cortina 1956 capture a far smaller, more intimate Games, with just 825 athletes from 32 countries — a stark contrast to the 3,500 athletes from 93

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The 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo were a far cry from the gigantic global sporting spectacle the Italian mountain town will co-host alongside Milan in 2026.

Archive photographs from Cortina 1956 capture a far smaller, more intimate Games, with just 825 athletes from 32 countries — a stark contrast to the 3,500 athletes from 93 countries who will compete seven decades later.

See the images here:

Canada’s Lucile Wheeler finishing in sixth place in the women’s giant slalom.
Canada’s Lucile Wheeler finishing in sixth place in the women’s giant slalom.

via Associated Press

Britain's two-man bobsleigh team greeting passengers in a Bentley on the eve of the Games' opening ceremony.
Britain’s two-man bobsleigh team greeting passengers in a Bentley on the eve of the Games’ opening ceremony.

STAFF via Getty Images

Austrian figure skaters Sissy Schwarz and Kurt Oppelt won the pairs title.
Austrian figure skaters Sissy Schwarz and Kurt Oppelt won the pairs title.

Bettmann via Getty Images

Ossi Reichert, right, is congratulated by her mother after winning the ladies’ giant slalom race.
Ossi Reichert, right, is congratulated by her mother after winning the ladies’ giant slalom race.

via Associated Press

The “Italia” ski jump at the 1956 Games.
The “Italia” ski jump at the 1956 Games.

Bettmann via Getty Images

Germany's four-man bobsleigh team during a training run.
Germany’s four-man bobsleigh team during a training run.

via Associated Press

Austrian skier Toni Sailer, center, his sister Rosl, right, and a soldier, left, following his victory in the men’s downhill competition.
Austrian skier Toni Sailer, center, his sister Rosl, right, and a soldier, left, following his victory in the men’s downhill competition.

Bettmann via Getty Images

Ossi Reichert, pictured center, along with Putzi Frandl, right and Thea Hochleitner, left, taking first, second and third place in the giant slalom race.
Ossi Reichert, pictured center, along with Putzi Frandl, right and Thea Hochleitner, left, taking first, second and third place in the giant slalom race.

via Associated Press

Austria’s Tony Sailer winning his second gold in the slalom.
Austria’s Tony Sailer winning his second gold in the slalom.

Bettmann via Getty Images

Rome darkroom staffer Carlo Pelliccia dries negatives in a bathroom where film for five Associated Press photographers was being processed during the 1956 Winter Olympics.
Rome darkroom staffer Carlo Pelliccia dries negatives in a bathroom where film for five Associated Press photographers was being processed during the 1956 Winter Olympics.

via Associated Press

Austria’s Toni Sailer is carried on the shoulders of fans after winning the men’s giant slalom.
Austria’s Toni Sailer is carried on the shoulders of fans after winning the men’s giant slalom.

Bettmann via Getty Images

Holland’s Gerardus Maarse in the 5srcsrc-meter speed skating.
Holland’s Gerardus Maarse in the 500-meter speed skating.

via Associated Press

Bobsledder Jim Bickford, from Saranac Lake, New York, carries the U.S. flag as he leads teammates in the opening ceremony.
Bobsledder Jim Bickford, from Saranac Lake, New York, carries the U.S. flag as he leads teammates in the opening ceremony.

via Associated Press

Germany’s Ossi Reichert wins the women’s giant slalom.
Germany’s Ossi Reichert wins the women’s giant slalom.

Central Press via Getty Images

Italian Alpine skier Giuliana Chenal-Minuzzo reads the Olympic oath at the opening ceremony.
Italian Alpine skier Giuliana Chenal-Minuzzo reads the Olympic oath at the opening ceremony.

via Associated Press

Russia’s Ljubov Kozyreva winning the women’s 1src-kilometer cross-country ski.
Russia’s Ljubov Kozyreva winning the women’s 10-kilometer cross-country ski.

via Associated Press

Spectators entering the ice stadium before the opening ceremony.
Spectators entering the ice stadium before the opening ceremony.

via Associated Press

In front of 13,srcsrcsrc people and 1,2srcsrc competitors, Italian skater Guido Caroli falls while carrying the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony.
In front of 13,000 people and 1,200 competitors, Italian skater Guido Caroli falls while carrying the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony.

via Associated Press

The opening ceremony of the 1956 Winter Olympics.
The opening ceremony of the 1956 Winter Olympics.

Authenticated News via Getty Images

American figure skater Tenley Albright practices along the ice prior to competing in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
American figure skater Tenley Albright practices along the ice prior to competing in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Bettmann via Getty Images

American figure skaters Carol Ann Ormaca, left, and Robin Greiner get in some last-minute training.
American figure skaters Carol Ann Ormaca, left, and Robin Greiner get in some last-minute training.

Bettmann via Getty Images

U.S. figure skater Carol Heiss cuts up the ice.
U.S. figure skater Carol Heiss cuts up the ice.

Bettmann via Getty Images

Array of national banners hung in front of the Olympics HQ.
Array of national banners hung in front of the Olympics HQ.

Bettmann via Getty Images

Italian athlete Giuseppe Dordone arrives with the Olympic flame at Ciampino Airport in Rome.
Italian athlete Giuseppe Dordone arrives with the Olympic flame at Ciampino Airport in Rome.

Keystone via Getty Images

Swiss skier Madeleine Berthod.
Swiss skier Madeleine Berthod.

Dukas via Getty Images

Soviet athletes parade through the streets of Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Soviet athletes parade through the streets of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Fototeca Storica Nazionale. via Getty Images

The lighting of a torch from the Olympic flame.
The lighting of a torch from the Olympic flame.

David Lees via Getty Images

U.S. bronze medal-winning figure skater David Jenkins.
U.S. bronze medal-winning figure skater David Jenkins.

Bettmann via Getty Images

Goal scene from an ice hockey match between the Federal Republic of Germany and Austria.
Goal scene from an ice hockey match between the Federal Republic of Germany and Austria.

picture alliance via Getty Images

Russia’s Yevgeny Grishin winning the 5srcsrc-meter speed skating.
Russia’s Yevgeny Grishin winning the 500-meter speed skating.

Bettmann via Getty Images

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