Sport in Australia in the 1950s
Technology made it possible to watch sporting performances live on television.
• Television rights to the Melbourne Olympics were eventually granted to Australia's Channel 9.
• In 1956, Melbourne hosted the Olympic Games. This fostered a great sense of national pride and cast the international spotlight onto Australia like never before.
• It was the first time the games had been held in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Australia had rapidly recovered from then ravages of World War II
• This was considered to be a contributing factor to Melbourne's successful Olympic bid.
• The prelude to the Melbourne Olympics was a controversial time.
• As Australia's strict quarantine laws meant that many horses would be prevented from entering the country, the equestrian competition was eventually held in Stockholm, Sweden.
• This was the first time in history that an Olympic event was held outside the host country.
• Just weeks before the Melbourne games commenced, Cold War tensions came to a head.
• The USSR invaded Hungary to prevent an uprising and there was doubt that the Olympic Games would even go ahead.
• The Melbourne Games did proceed, but the tensions between Hungary and the USSR led to a violent clash between the two countries during an Olympic water polo match.
• Australia finished with excellent results at the Melbourne Olympics, coming in third behind the United States and the USSR with a total of 35 medals, including 13 gold.
• Our greatest medal haul was in the swimming events.
• Australia won every men's and women's freestyle race and collected a total of 8 gold medals.
• Standout individual Australians at the Olympics include sprinter Betty Cuthbert and swimmers Murray Rose and Dawn Fraser.
• The 1950s were a stand-out decade for Australian sport.
• Sporting success, particularly on the world stage, has enabled the creation of a distinct national identity.
• Australia reigned supreme in world tennis and cricket throughout the 1950s with stars
• Television rights to the Melbourne Olympics were eventually granted to Australia's Channel 9.
• In 1956, Melbourne hosted the Olympic Games. This fostered a great sense of national pride and cast the international spotlight onto Australia like never before.
• It was the first time the games had been held in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Australia had rapidly recovered from then ravages of World War II
• This was considered to be a contributing factor to Melbourne's successful Olympic bid.
• The prelude to the Melbourne Olympics was a controversial time.
• As Australia's strict quarantine laws meant that many horses would be prevented from entering the country, the equestrian competition was eventually held in Stockholm, Sweden.
• This was the first time in history that an Olympic event was held outside the host country.
• Just weeks before the Melbourne games commenced, Cold War tensions came to a head.
• The USSR invaded Hungary to prevent an uprising and there was doubt that the Olympic Games would even go ahead.
• The Melbourne Games did proceed, but the tensions between Hungary and the USSR led to a violent clash between the two countries during an Olympic water polo match.
• Australia finished with excellent results at the Melbourne Olympics, coming in third behind the United States and the USSR with a total of 35 medals, including 13 gold.
• Our greatest medal haul was in the swimming events.
• Australia won every men's and women's freestyle race and collected a total of 8 gold medals.
• Standout individual Australians at the Olympics include sprinter Betty Cuthbert and swimmers Murray Rose and Dawn Fraser.
• The 1950s were a stand-out decade for Australian sport.
• Sporting success, particularly on the world stage, has enabled the creation of a distinct national identity.
• Australia reigned supreme in world tennis and cricket throughout the 1950s with stars