The 1956 Winter Olympics were held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, from January 26 to February 5. This was the seventh edition of the Winter Games, featuring athletes from 32 countries competing in 24 events across four sports: skiing, skating, ice hockey, and bobsleigh. The games were notable for the introduction of the biathlon as an Olympic event, combining cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. The event showcased the talents of athletes like Kjetil André Aamodt and Kurt Egelhof, contributing to the growing popularity of winter sports on the global stage.