Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics: Torch Relay and Opening Ceremony

Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics: Torch Relay and Opening Ceremony

From Keep the Flame Alive by Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

April 9, 2026 · 18 min

About this episode

The episode explores the torch relay and Opening Ceremony of the Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics, highlighting their differences from the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026.

Step back in time to Cortina 1956! We're back with another Olympics history episode, looking at the torch relay and Opening Ceremony for the Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympics. These two events were vastly different than what we saw at Milano Cortina 2026, and we compare 1956's short torch relay (partly on wheels and never in Greece) and short Opening Ceremony that for the first time was broadcast to the world on TV--and featured a major gaffe. Listen to find out what went down and the surprises we learned from the 1956 Winter Olympics. For a transcript and complete list of sources used in this episode, visit: https://flamealivepod.com . Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive! Photo: Jill Jaracz *** Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jill Jaracz, Alison Brown

Topics covered

  • Olympics history
  • torch relay
  • Opening Ceremony
  • Cortina 1956
  • broadcast history
  • sports events

Keywords

  • Cortina 1956
  • Winter Olympics
  • torch relay
  • Opening Ceremony
  • Olympics history
  • broadcast
  • sports

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Cortina d'Ampezzo

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