ΕΝΩΣΗ ΣΥΜΜΕΤΑΣΧΟΝΤΩΝ ΣΕ ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΥΣ ΑΓΩΝΕΣ
HELLENIC OLYMPIANS ASSOCIATION

EVENTS OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN MELBOURNE

In the historical stadium of Melbourne, the ‘MCG’ stadium, the 50th anniversary of the Olympic Games in 1956 were celebrated. In a glorious ceremony those present were – amongst others – representatives of many countries with the athletes that had participated back then.

Two athletes from Greece were present, the 3000 steeple runner, 7 times Balkan winner Georgios Papavasiliou and the sailing champion Stelios Bonas. Also Greek rower Hajiyakoumis participated in the Greek team, who has resided permanently in Australia ever since.

The Greek participation was achieved thanks to the World Olympians Association covering part of the expenses with the amount of 2000 dollars and with the contribution of three members of the Administration Board. The celebration of the anniversary of the Olympic Games in Melbourne reminded the Greek sports fans of Georgios Roubanis’ great success in conquering the bronze medal in poll vaulting, scoring 4.50 meters. The Greek team was made up of few participants, just 26 of them.

Apart from Georgios Roubanis, Georgios Tsakanikas who stood out among track and field athletes, managed to conquer the 8th place of the shot put. Even Antonis Georgoulis (who was absent) of the Hellenic Athletics Union in Greco-Roman Wrestling in the heavy weights category, had again achieved 6th position, just as he had done in the Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games.

In total, at the 1956 Olympic Games, 67 countries participated with 3.342 athletes (of which 384 of them were women), and the Games were named “The Friendly Games”, due to the warm hospitality of the Australian sports fans towards all the foreign athletes. Well known names associated with those Olympic Games were the legendary runner Ron Clarke, his fellow runner John Landy, swimmer Dawn Fraser, the "flying" housewife Shirley Strickland and other memorable athletes.

In honour of the three Greek athletes, the Greek Community in Melbourne, representing the thousands of Greeks from the Greek parish, hosted a reception in which present were select members of the host city.