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109-749: The 1956 Summer Olympics , officially the Games of the XVI Olympiad and officially branded as Melbourne 1956 , were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne , Victoria , Australia , from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events , which were held in Stockholm , Sweden, in June 1956. These Games were the first to be staged in the Southern Hemisphere and Oceania , as well as

218-608: A 1993 agreement , the Argentine Constitution was amended to give Buenos Aires autonomy and rescinding, among other things, the president's right to appoint the city's mayor (as had been the case since 1880). On 30 June 1996, voters in Buenos Aires chose their first elected mayor, Jefe de Gobierno . In 1996, following the 1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution , the city held its first mayoral elections under

327-646: A Chief of Government in 1996; previously, the Mayor was directly appointed by the President of Argentina . The Greater Buenos Aires conurbation, which also includes several Buenos Aires Province districts , constitutes the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas , with a population of around 13.8 million. It is also the second largest city south of the Tropic of Capricorn . The quality of life in Buenos Aires

436-652: A Deputy Chief of Government. In analogous fashion to the Vice President of Argentina, the Deputy Chief of Government presides over the city's legislative body, the City Legislature . The Chief of Government and the Legislature are both elected for four-year terms; half of the Legislature's members are renewed every two years. Elections use the D'Hondt method of proportional representation. The judicial branch comprises

545-632: A one-vote margin. The first sign of trouble was the revelation that Australian equine quarantine would prevent the country from hosting the equestrian events. Stockholm was selected as the alternative site, so equestrian competition began on 10 June, five and a half months before the rest of the Olympic Games were to open. The above problems of the Melbourne Games were compounded by bickering over financing among Australian politicians. Eventually, in March 1953,

654-581: A remarkable javelin throw of 85.71 metres (281.2 ft). Throughout the Olympics, Hungarian athletes were cheered by fans from Australia and other countries. Many of them gathered in the boxing arena when thirty-year-old Laszlo Papp of Hungary won a record third gold medal by beating José Torres for the light-middleweight championship. A few days later, the crowd was with the Hungarian water polo team in its hotly contested and emotionally charged match against

763-574: A selected group of athletes, rather than everybody, which was the case with the Olympic Games. The Soviets organized the first Spartakiad in 1920, a communist alternative to the 'bourgeois' Olympic Games, and in 1922 the University Olympia was organizedor in Italy , the forerunner of the World University Games , meant for students only. Regional games were another kind of multi-sport event that

872-528: A unipersonal office, the Supreme Director . Formal independence from Spain was declared in 1816, at the Congress of Tucumán . Buenos Aires managed to endure the whole Spanish American wars of independence without falling again under royalist rule. Historically, Buenos Aires has been Argentina's main venue of liberal , free-trading , and foreign ideas. In contrast, many of the provinces, especially those to

981-608: A week before the opening ceremony. The three Sydney stations, TCN9 , ATN7 and ABN2 , syndicated the Melbourne coverage. television in Australia was new having its beginnings in September 1956, so for many Australians, their first glimpse of television was Olympic broadcasts. Around five thousand television sets were in Australia by the time of the Games, so the domestic audience largely watched

1090-476: Is an autonomous district. In 1880, after the Argentine Civil War , Buenos Aires was federalized and removed from Buenos Aires Province. The city limits were enlarged to include the towns of Belgrano and Flores ; both are now neighborhoods of the city . The 1994 constitutional amendment granted the city autonomy , hence its formal name of Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Its citizens first elected

1199-445: Is that of the Cien barrios porteños ("One hundred porteño neighborhoods"), referring to a composition made popular in the 1940s by tango singer Alberto Castillo ; however, Buenos Aires only consists of 48 official barrios . There are several subdivisions of these districts, some with a long history and others that are the product of a real estate invention. A notable example is Palermo –

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1308-521: Is the capital city of Argentina , on the western shore of the Río de la Plata on South America's southeastern coast. " Buenos aires " is Spanish for "fair winds" or "good airs". Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha global city , according to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) 2020 ranking. The city of Buenos Aires is neither part of Buenos Aires Province nor its capital; it

1417-672: Is today the San Telmo district of Buenos Aires, south of the city center . More attacks by the indigenous people forced the settlers away, and in 1542, the site was thusly abandoned. A second (and permanent) settlement was established on 11 June 1580 by Juan de Garay , who arrived by sailing down the Paraná River from Asunción (now the capital of Paraguay). He dubbed the settlement "Santísima Trinidad" and its port became "Puerto de Santa María de los Buenos Aires." From its earliest days, Buenos Aires depended primarily on trade. During most of

1526-514: The Argentine Chamber of Deputies . The Guardia Urbana de Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires Urban Guard) was a specialized civilian force of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina , that used to deal with different urban conflicts with the objective of developing actions of prevention, dissuasion and mediation, promoting effective behaviors that guarantee the security and the integrity of public order and social coexistence. The unit continuously assisted

1635-557: The Pampero and Sudestada winds pass by, the weather is variable due to these contrasting air masses. Summers are hot and humid. The warmest month is January, with a daily average of 24.9 °C (76.8 °F). Heat waves are common during summers. However, most heat waves are of short duration (less than a week) and are followed by the passage of the cold, dry Pampero wind which brings violent and intense thunderstorms followed by cooler temperatures. The highest temperature ever recorded

1744-678: The People's Republic of China 's boycott was in response to a dispute with the Republic of China over the right to represent China. The Soviet Union won the most gold and overall medals at these Games. One of the most notable events of the games was a controversial water polo match between the Soviet Union and the defending champions, Hungary . The Soviet Union had recently suppressed an anti-authoritarian revolution in Hungary and violence broke out between

1853-705: The State Government accepted a £2 million loan from the Commonwealth Government to build the Olympic Village , which would accommodate up to 6,000 people, in Heidelberg West . After the Olympics, the houses in the village were handed back to the Housing Commission for general public housing. At one point, IOC President Avery Brundage suggested that Rome, which was to host the 1960 Games,

1962-532: The equestrian events in Stockholm), Ethiopia , Fiji , Kenya , Liberia , Federation of Malaya , North Borneo (modern-day Sabah of Malaysia ), and Uganda . Athletes from East Germany and West Germany competed together as the United Team of Germany , an arrangement that would last until 1968. For the first time, the team of Republic of China effectively represented only Taiwan . Five nations competed in

2071-717: The equestrian events in Stockholm, but did not attend the Games in Melbourne. Cambodia , Egypt and Lebanon did not compete in Melbourne due to a boycott regarding the Suez Crisis , whilst the Netherlands , Spain and Switzerland all boycotted the Melbourne Olympics in protest at the Soviet invasion of Hungary . Nations that returned to the games in this edition included Afghanistan and Colombia . Nations that participated in

2180-697: The pampa region , with the exception of some areas such as the Buenos Aires Ecological Reserve , the Boca Juniors (football club) 's "sports city", Jorge Newbery Airport , the Puerto Madero neighborhood and the main port itself; these were all built on reclaimed land along the coasts of the Rio de la Plata (the world's widest river). The region was formerly crossed by different streams and lagoons, some of which were refilled, and others tubed. Among

2289-551: The "Fair Winds" to aid them in their navigation and prevent shipwrecks . A sanctuary to the Virgin of Buen Ayre would later be erected in Seville . At the foundation of Buenos Aires, Spanish sailors arrived in the Río de la Plata giving thanks to the blessings of "Santa Maria de los Buenos Aires", "Holy Mary of the Good Winds", who they believed to have given them the good winds to reach

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2398-463: The "Golden Girl". The veteran Shirley Strickland repeated her 1952 win in the 80 metre hurdles and was also part of the winning 4 x 100 metre relay team, bringing her career Olympic medal total to seven: three golds, a silver, and three bronze medals. Australia also triumphed in swimming. They won all of the freestyle races, men's and women's, and collected a total of eight gold, four silver and two bronze medals. Murray Rose became

2507-513: The "Parade of Athletes" at the closing ceremonies. Nine teams boycotted the Games for various reasons. Four teams (Egypt, Iraq, Cambodia and Lebanon) boycotted in response to the Suez Crisis , in which Egypt was invaded by Israel , France and the United Kingdom . Four teams (the Netherlands, Spain, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) boycotted in response to the Soviet invasion of Hungary , and

2616-432: The 158 athletes from 29 countries who took part in the Stockholm equestrian competition.) Once underway, the Games progressed smoothly, and came to be known as the "Friendly Games". Betty Cuthbert , an 18-year-old from Sydney, won the 100 and 200 metre sprint races and ran an exceptional final leg in the 4 x 100 metre relay to overcome Great Britain's lead and claim her third gold medal, becoming known as

2725-450: The 17th century, Spanish ships were menaced by pirates, so they developed a complex system where ships with military protection were dispatched to Central America in a convoy from Seville (the only port allowed to trade with the American colonies) to Lima, Peru , and from there to the other cities of the viceroyalty. Because of this, products took a very long time to arrive in Buenos Aires, and

2834-690: The 17th century. The usual abbreviation for Buenos Aires in Spanish is Bs.As . It is also common to refer to it as " B.A. " or " BA ". When referring specifically to the autonomous city, it is very common to colloquially call it " Capital " in Spanish. Since the autonomy obtained in 1994, it has been called " CABA " (per Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires , Autonomous City of Buenos Aires). [REDACTED] Kingdom of Spain - Habsburg , 1536–1700 [REDACTED] Kingdom of Spain - Bourbon , 1700–1808 [REDACTED] Kingdom of Spain - Bonaparte , 1808–1810 [REDACTED] United Provinces of

2943-442: The 1970s the city suffered from the fighting between left-wing revolutionary movements ( Montoneros , ERP and F.A.R.) and the right-wing paramilitary group Triple A , supported by Isabel Perón , who became president of Argentina in 1974 after Juan Perón's death. The March 1976 coup , led by General Jorge Videla , only escalated this conflict; the " Dirty War " resulted in 30,000 desaparecidos (people kidnapped and killed by

3052-470: The 1990s saw an economic revival, particularly in the construction and financial sectors. On 17 March 1992, a bomb exploded in the Israeli Embassy , killing 29 and injuring 242. Another explosion, on 18 July 1994, destroyed a building housing several Jewish organizations, killing 85 and injuring many more, these incidents marked the beginning of Middle Eastern terrorism to South America. Following

3161-558: The 43rd IOC Session in Rome, Italy on 28 April 1949. Mexico City, Montreal and Los Angeles would eventually be selected to host the 1968 , 1976 and 1984 Summer Olympics respectively. Many members of the IOC were skeptical about Melbourne as an appropriate site. Its location in the Southern Hemisphere was a major concern since the reversal of seasons would mean the Games must be held during

3270-514: The Constitution of the states that " Suffrage is free, equal, secret, universal, compulsory and non-accumulative. Resident aliens enjoy this same right, with its corresponding obligations, on equal terms with Argentine citizens registered in the district, under the terms established by law ." The executive power is vested on the Chief of Government (Spanish: Jefe de Gobierno ), who is elected alongside

3379-671: The Crown of Aragon, after its capture from the Pisans in 1324, established their headquarters on top of a hill that overlooked the city. The hill was known to them as Bonaira (or Bonaria in Sardinian ), as it was free of the foul smell prevalent in the old city (the castle area), which is adjacent to swampland . During the siege of Cagliari, the Catalans built a sanctuary to the Virgin Mary on top of

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3488-439: The Mayor of Cairns, Alderman W.J. Fulton, lit the first torch with the torch design was identical to the one used for the 1948 London Games (except for the engraved city name and year). The first runner was Con Verevis, a local man of Greek parentage. The flame was relayed down the east coast of Australia using die cast aluminium torches weighing about 3 pounds (1.8 kg). The flame arrived in Melbourne on 22 November 1956,

3597-597: The Olympiade de la République in France in the 1800s. In the late 19th and early 20th century, athletes at multi-sport events were almost exclusively male. As international women's sport began to develop, events such as the Women's World Games and Olympics of Grace were held to allow women to engage in sport on the international stage. Though short-lived, events such as these led to greater inclusion of women at multi-sport events over

3706-870: The Olympics became very popular nowadays. The number of sports, initially only a few, is still growing. The Paralympic Games is the largest multi-sport event involving athletes with physical disabilities and is organized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Arranged for the first time in 1960 in Rome , Italy . The number of sports, initially only a few, is still growing. The first Special Olympics International Summer Games were held in Chicago , Illinois, in 1968. The most recent Special Olympics World Winter Games in Schladming, Austria involved 25 sports and approximately 2,277 athletes from 133 countries. At

3815-497: The Olympics were not held entirely in one country, the first being the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp , Belgium, with some events taking place in Ostend, Belgium , and Amsterdam, Netherlands . Despite uncertainties and various complications encountered during the preparations, the 1956 Games went ahead in Melbourne as planned and turned out to be a success. Started during the 1956 Games was

3924-582: The Olympics. Egypt, Iraq, Cambodia and Lebanon announced that they would not participate in the Olympics in response to the Suez Crisis when Egypt was invaded by Israel, the United Kingdom, and France. The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and Liechtenstein boycotted the event in protest of the Soviet Union 's crushing of the Hungarian Revolution . The People's Republic of China chose to boycott

4033-452: The Río de la Plata , 1810–1831 [REDACTED] Argentine Confederation , 1831–1852 [REDACTED] State of Buenos Aires , 1852–1861 [REDACTED]   Argentina , 1861–present In 1516, navigator and explorer Juan Díaz de Solís , navigating in the name of Spain, was the first European to reach the Río de la Plata . His expedition was cut short when he was killed during an attack by

4142-587: The Soviet Union which took place against the background of the Soviet invasion of Hungary . The game became rough and, when a Hungarian was forced to leave the pool with a bleeding wound above his eye, a riot almost broke out. The police restored order and the game was called early, with Hungary leading 4–0 , and the Hungarians went on to win the gold medal. In a much publicized Olympic romance, American hammer throw champion Hal Connolly would marry Czechoslovak discus throw champion , Olga Fikotová . After moving to

4251-813: The Supreme Court of Justice ( Tribunal Superior de Justicia ), the Council of Magistracy ( Consejo de la Magistratura ), the Public Ministry, and other city courts. Legally, the city has less autonomy than the Provinces . In June 1996, shortly before the city's first Executive elections were held, the Argentine National Congress issued the National Law 24.588 (known as Ley Cafiero , after the Senator who advanced

4360-536: The United States, Olga wanted to continue representing Czechoslovakia, but the Czechoslovak Olympic Committee would not allow her to do so. Thereafter, as Olga Connolly, she took part in every Olympics until 1972 competing for the U.S. She was the flag bearer for the U.S. team at the 1972 Summer Olympics. The India men's national field hockey team won its sixth consecutive Olympic gold. Despite

4469-428: The acting mayor, was invested with the office. In the 2007 elections, Mauricio Macri of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party won the second-round of voting over Daniel Filmus of the Frente para la Victoria (FPV) party, taking office on 9 December 2007. In 2011, the elections went to a second round with 60.96 percent of the vote for PRO, compared to 39.04 percent for FPV, thus ensuring Macri's reelection as mayor of

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4578-402: The balance of power favorably for the criollos (in contrast to peninsulars ), as well as the development of the Peninsular War in Spain. An attempt by the peninsular merchant Martín de Álzaga to remove Liniers and replace him with a Junta was defeated by the criollo armies. However, by 1810 it would be those same armies who would support a new revolutionary attempt, successfully removing

4687-472: The beginning of the 20th century, another multi-sport event, the Nordic Games were first held. These Games were held in Scandinavia , and the sports conducted were winter sports such as cross-country skiing and speed skating . The Nordic Games were last held in 1926, after which the 1924 Winter Sports Week in Chamonix was declared the first Olympic Winter Games . In the 1920s, all kinds of other multi-sport events were set up. These were usually directed for

4796-466: The brief period of British rule, the viceroy Rafael Sobremonte managed to escape to Córdoba and designated this city as capital. Buenos Aires became the capital again after its recapture by Argentine forces, but Sobremonte could not resume his duties as viceroy. Santiago de Liniers, chosen as new viceroy, prepared the city against a possible new British attack and repelled a second invasion by Britain in 1807. The militarization generated in society changed

4905-475: The capital. However, Charles's placating actions did not have the desired effect, and the porteños , some of them versed in the ideology of the French Revolution , instead became even more convinced of the need for independence from Spain. During the British invasions of the Río de la Plata , British forces attacked Buenos Aires twice. In 1806 the British successfully invaded Buenos Aires, but an army from Montevideo led by Santiago de Liniers defeated them. In

5014-508: The city became the regional capital of radio , television , cinema , and theater . The city's main avenues were built during those years, and the dawn of the 20th century saw the construction of South America's tallest buildings and its first underground system. A second construction boom, from 1945 to 1980, reshaped downtown and much of the city. Buenos Aires also attracted migrants from Argentina's provinces and neighboring countries. Shanty towns ( villas miseria ) started growing around

5123-411: The city was federalized and became the seat of government, with its mayor appointed by the president. The Casa Rosada became the seat of the president . Health conditions in poor areas were appalling, with high rates of tuberculosis. Contemporaneous public health physicians and politicians typically blamed both the poor themselves and their ramshackle tenement houses (conventillos) for the spread of

5232-435: The city with María Eugenia Vidal as deputy mayor. PRO is established in the most affluent area of the city and in those over fifty years of age. The 2015 elections were the first to use an electronic voting system in the city, similar to the one used in Salta Province . In these elections held on 5 July 2015, Macri stepped down as mayor and pursue his presidential bid and Horacio Rodríguez Larreta took his place as

5341-412: The city's eastern side in the neighborhoods of Puerto Madero, Recoleta, Palermo, and Belgrano. Some of the most important are: Under the Köppen climate classification , Buenos Aires has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ). As a result of maritime influences from the adjoining Atlantic Ocean , the climate is temperate with extreme temperatures being rare. Because the city is located in an area where

5450-466: The city's industrial areas during the 1930s, leading to pervasive social problems and social contrasts with the largely upwardly mobile Buenos Aires population. These laborers became the political base of Peronism , which emerged in Buenos Aires during the pivotal demonstration of 17 October 1945, at the Plaza de Mayo . Industrial workers of the Greater Buenos Aires industrial belt have been Peronism's main support base ever since, and Plaza de Mayo became

5559-417: The city's northwest, advocated a more nationalistic and Catholic approach to political and social issues. In fact, much of the internal tension in Argentina's history, starting with the centralist-federalist conflicts of the 19th century, can be traced back to these contrasting views. In the months immediately following said "May Revolution", Buenos Aires sent a number of military envoys to the provinces with

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5668-411: The city's residents live in apartment buildings and 30% in single-family homes; 4% live in sub-standard housing. Measured in terms of income, the city's poverty rate was 8.4% in 2007 and, including the metro area, 20.6%. Other studies estimate that 4 million people in the metropolitan Buenos Aires area live in poverty. The city's resident labor force of 1.2 million in 2001 was mostly employed in

5777-412: The city, and the country in general, has been a major recipient of millions of immigrants from all over the world , making it a melting pot where several ethnic groups live together. Thus, Buenos Aires is considered one of the most diverse cities of the Americas . Buenos Aires held the 1st FIBA World Championship in 1950 and 11th FIBA World Championship in 1990 , the 1st Pan American Games in 1951 ,

5886-400: The city. The population of Greater Buenos Aires was 13,147,638 according to 2010 census data. The population density in Buenos Aires proper was 13,680 inhabitants per square kilometer (35,400 inhabitants/sq mi), but only about 2,400/km (6,200/sq mi) in the suburbs. Buenos Aires' population has hovered around 3 million since 1947, due to low birth rates and a slow migration to

5995-400: The coast of what is today the modern city. Pedro de Mendoza called the city "Holy Mary of the Fair Winds", a name suggested by the chaplain of Mendoza's expedition – a devotee of the Virgin of Buen Ayre – after the Madonna of Bonaria from Sardinia (which is still to this day the patroness of the Mediterranean island ). Mendoza's settlement soon came under attack by indigenous people and

6104-483: The course of the 20th century. Although the modern tradition commemorates the 1921 revolution , the Naadam festival in Mongolia is a continuation of ancient sporting practises amongst Mongolians. The three events of wrestling, horse racing and archery are thought to date back centuries and represent the three most important pursuits of a strong man in nomadic society. Alongside these sporting events there are other cultural activities such as dances and parades. Since

6213-491: The day of the opening ceremony and The flame was lit at the Olympic stadium by Ron Clarke , who accidentally burned his arm in the process. While the Olympic flame was being carried to Sydney, an Australian veterinary student named Barry Larkin carried a fake Olympic Flame and fooled the mayor of Sydney. The Olympics were first televised during the 1936 games to a domestic audience in Berlin. The 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo were broadcast internationally with

6322-460: The decision was reversed and Brasher became the first Briton to win a gold medal in track and field since 1936. Soviet runner Vladimir Kuts won two golds by winning both the 5,000-metre and 10,000-metre events. Only two world records were set in track and field. Mildred McDaniel , the first American woman to win gold in the sport, set a high jump record of 1.76 metres (5.8 ft), and Egil Danielsen of Norway overcame blustery conditions with

6431-470: The deployment of the Metropolitan Police of Buenos Aires is ongoing. Beginning in 2007, the city has embarked on a new decentralization scheme, creating new Communes ( comunas ) which are to be managed by elected committees of seven members each. Buenos Aires is represented in the Argentine Senate by three senators (as of 2017 , Martín Lousteau , Mariano Recalde and Guadalupe Tagliaferri ). The people of Buenos Aires also elect 25 national deputies to

6540-449: The dreaded disease. People ignored public-health campaigns to limit the spread of contagious diseases, such as the prohibition of spitting on the streets, the strict guidelines to care for infants and young children, and quarantines that separated families from ill loved ones. In addition to the wealth generated by customs duties and Argentine foreign trade in general, as well as the existence of fertile pampas , railroad development in

6649-406: The eight planned were put up at the time, they were mostly obtrusive raised freeways that continue to blight a number of formerly comfortable neighborhoods to this day. The city was visited by Pope John Paul II twice, firstly in 1982 and again in 1987; on these occasions gathered some of the largest crowds in the city's history. The return of democracy in 1983 coincided with a cultural revival, and

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6758-428: The elections for a third term with Larreta as mayor and Diego Santilli as deputy. In these elections, PRO was stronger in wealthier northern Buenos Aires, while ECO was stronger in the southern, poorer neighborhoods of the city. On 5 December 2023, Jorge Macri of PRO was sworn in as new mayor of Buenos Aires City to succeed outgoing Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta of the same party. The city of Buenos Aires lies in

6867-410: The establishment of the Olympics, most serial multi-sport events have been organized for specific audiences and participating countries or communities. These affiliations include: The first modern multi-sport event organised were the Olympic Games, organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) (est. 1894) for the first time in 1896 in Athens , Greece . After some celebrations (1900, 1904),

6976-447: The event because the Republic of China had been allowed to compete. Athletes from both East and West Germany competed together as a combined team (a remarkable display of unity that was repeated in 1960 and 1964 , but was then discontinued). Although the number of countries participating (67) was almost the same as in 1952 (69), the number of athletes competing dropped sharply, from 4,925 to 3,342. (This figure does not include

7085-527: The first Games for deaf athletes. The Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Games , incepted in 1948 in England, were the first Games for wheelchair athletes. In 1960, the first Paralympic Games were held, connected with the Olympic Games . The Special Olympics World Games , for athletes with intellectual disabilities, were first held in 1968. Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( / ˌ b w eɪ n ə s ˈ ɛər iː z / or /- ˈ aɪ r ɪ s / ; Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbwenos ˈajɾes] )

7194-459: The first male swimmer to win two freestyle events(and a total three events) since Johnny Weissmuller in 1924, while Dawn Fraser won gold medals in the 100 metre freestyle and as the leadoff swimmer in the 4 x 100 metre relay team. The men's track and field events were dominated by the United States. They not only won 15 of the 24 events, they swept four of them and took first and second place in five others. Bobby Morrow led

7303-445: The first to be held outside Europe and North America. Melbourne is the most southerly city ever to host the Olympics. Due to the Southern Hemisphere's seasons being different from those in the Northern Hemisphere, the 1956 Games did not take place at the usual time of year, because of the need to hold the events during the warmer weather of the host's spring/summer (which corresponds to the Northern Hemisphere's autumn/winter), resulting in

7412-406: The foreign powers eventually desisted from their demands. During most of the 19th century, the political status of the city remained a sensitive subject. It was already the capital of Buenos Aires Province , and between 1853 and 1860 it was the capital of the seceded State of Buenos Aires . The issue was fought out more than once on the battlefield, until the matter was finally settled in 1880 when

7521-458: The games at community halls and at Ampol petrol stations. The 1956 Summer Olympics featured 17 different sports encompassing 23 disciplines, and medals were awarded in 151 events (145 events in Melbourne and 6 equestrian events in Stockholm). In the list below, the number of events in each discipline is noted in parentheses. A total of 67 nations competed in the 1956 Olympics. Eight countries made their Olympic debuts: Cambodia (only competed in

7630-434: The hill. In 1335, King Alfonso the Gentle donated the church to the Mercedarians , who built an abbey that stands to this day. In the years after that, a story circulated, claiming that a statue of the Virgin Mary was retrieved from the sea after it miraculously calmed a storm in the Mediterranean Sea . The statue was placed in the abbey. Spanish sailors, especially Andalusians , venerated this image and frequently invoked

7739-422: The intention of obtaining their approval. Instead, the enterprise fueled tensions between the capital and the provinces; many of these missions ended in violent clashes. In the 19th century the city was blockaded twice by naval forces: by the French from 1838 to 1840, and later by an Anglo-French expedition from 1845 to 1848. Both blockades failed to bring the Argentine government to the negotiating table, and

7848-431: The international tensions of 1956—or perhaps because of them—a young Melburnian, John Ian Wing , came up with a new idea for the closing ceremony. Instead of marching as separate teams, behind their national flags, the athletes mingled together as they paraded into and around the arena for a final appearance before the spectators. It was the start of an Olympic tradition that has been followed ever since. The Olympic flame

7957-499: The mayoral candidate for PRO. In the first round of voting, FPV's Mariano Recalde obtained 21.78% of the vote, while Martín Lousteau of the ECO party obtained 25.59% and Larreta obtained 45.55%, meaning that the elections went to a second round since PRO was unable to secure the majority required for victory. The second round was held on 19 July 2015 and Larreta obtained 51.6% of the vote, followed closely by Lousteau with 48.4%, thus, PRO won

8066-501: The military during the years of the junta). The silent marches of their mothers ( Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo ) are a well-known image of Argentines' suffering during those times. The dictatorship 's appointed mayor, Osvaldo Cacciatore , also drew up plans for a network of freeways intended to relieve the city's acute traffic gridlock. The plan, however, called for a seemingly indiscriminate razing of residential areas and, though only three of

8175-484: The most important streams are the Maldonado, Vega, Medrano, Cildañez, and White. In 1908, as floods were damaging the city's infrastructure, many streams were channeled and rectified; furthermore, starting in 1919, most streams were enclosed. Most notably, the Maldonado was tubed in 1954; it currently runs below Juan B. Justo Avenue . Buenos Aires has over 250 parks and green spaces, the largest concentration of which are on

8284-453: The native Charrúa tribe in what is now Uruguay . The city of Buenos Aires was first established as Ciudad de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre (literally "City of Our Lady Saint Mary of the Fair Winds") after Our Lady of Bonaria (Patroness Saint of Sardinia ) on 2 February 1536 by a Spanish expedition led by Pedro de Mendoza . The settlement founded by Mendoza was located in what

8393-487: The new statutes, with the mayor's title formally changed to "Head of Government". The winner was Fernando de la Rúa , who would later become President of Argentina from 1999 to 2001. De la Rúa's successor, Aníbal Ibarra , won two popular elections, but was impeached (and ultimately deposed on 6 March 2006) as a result of the fire at the República Cromagnon nightclub. In the meantime, Jorge Telerman , who had been

8502-527: The new viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros . This is known as the May Revolution , which is now celebrated as a national holiday. This event started the Argentine War of Independence , and many armies left Buenos Aires to fight the diverse strongholds of royalist resistance, with varying levels of success. The government was held first by two Juntas of many members, then by two triumvirates , and finally by

8611-403: The north brings hot temperatures. The city receives 1,257.6 mm (50 in) of precipitation per year. Because of its geomorphology along with an inadequate drainage network, the city is highly vulnerable to flooding during periods of heavy rainfall. Since the adoption of the city's Constitution in 1996, Buenos Aires has counted with a democratically elected executive; Article 61 of

8720-472: The northern winter. The November–December schedule was thought likely to inconvenience athletes from the Northern Hemisphere , who were accustomed to resting during their winter. Notwithstanding these concerns, the field of candidates eventually narrowed to two Southern Hemisphere cities, these being Melbourne and Buenos Aires , Argentina . Melbourne was selected, in 1949, to host the 1956 Olympics by

8829-555: The only summer games ever to be held in November and December. Australia hosted the Games for a second time in 2000 in Sydney , New South Wales , and will host them again in 2032 in Brisbane , Queensland . The Olympic equestrian events could not be held in Melbourne due to Australia's strict quarantine regulations , so they were held in Stockholm five months earlier. This was the second time

8938-399: The organising committee giving the television rights gratis. While there was much interest in the games overseas, no international television or newsreel rights were awarded, as the Melbourne organising committee requested licensing payments for the broadcasting rights. However, domestic rights to the games were hastily agreed by the then three Melbourne stations, GTV9 , HSV7 and ABV2 , only

9047-522: The personnel of the Argentine Federal Police , especially in emergency situations, events of massive concurrence, and protection of tourist establishments . Urban Guard officials did not carry any weapons in the performing of their duties. Their basic tools were a HT radio transmitter and a whistle. As of March 2008 , the Guardia Urbana was removed. The Buenos Aires Metropolitan Police

9156-568: The previous games in Helsinki 1952 but was absent in Melbourne 1956 included the People's Republic of China , Liechtenstein , Netherlands Antilles , Saar . Saar was annexed by West Germany. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States . Bahamas , Bermuda , Fiji , Gold Coast , Hong Kong , Jamaica , Kenya , Nigeria , Malaya , North Borneo , Singapore , Trinidad and Tobago , Uganda and British Guyana

9265-758: The project) by which the authority over the 25,000-strong Argentine Federal Police and the responsibility over the federal institutions residing at the city (e.g., National Supreme Court of Justice buildings ) would not be transferred from the National Government to the Autonomous City Government until a new consensus could be reached at the National Congress. Furthermore, it declared that the Port of Buenos Aires , along with some other places, would remain under constituted federal authorities. As of 2011 ,

9374-550: The responsibility of the Buenos Aires City Police . The police is headed by the Chief of Police who is appointed by the head of the executive branch of the city of Buenos Aires. Geographically, the force is divided into 56 stations throughout the city. All police station employees are civilians. The Buenos Aires City Police force is composed of over 25,000 officers. In the census of 2010, there were 2,891,082 people residing in

9483-463: The second half of the 19th century increased the economic power of Buenos Aires as raw materials flowed into its factories. A leading destination for immigrants from Europe, particularly Italy and Spain, from 1880 to 1930, Buenos Aires became a multicultural city that ranked itself alongside the major European capitals. During this time, the Colón Theater became one of the world's top opera venues, and

9592-419: The services sector, particularly social services (25%), commerce and tourism (20%) and business and financial services (17%); despite the city's role as Argentina's capital, public administration employed only 6%. Manufacturing still employed 10%. The city is divided into barrios (neighborhoods) for administrative purposes, a division originally based on Catholic parroquias (parishes). A common expression

9701-462: The site for demonstrations and many of the country's political events; on 16 June 1955, however, a splinter faction of the Navy bombed the Plaza de Mayo area, killing 364 civilians (see Bombing of Plaza de Mayo ). This was the only time the city was attacked from the air, and the event was followed by a military uprising which deposed President Perón, three months later (see Revolución Libertadora ). In

9810-423: The suburbs. However, the surrounding districts have expanded over fivefold (to around 10 million) since then. The 2001 census showed a relatively aged population: with 17% under the age of fifteen and 22% over sixty, the people of Buenos Aires have an age structure similar to those in most European cities. They are older than Argentines as a whole (of whom 28% were under 15, and 14% over 60). Two-thirds of

9919-463: The taxes generated by the transport made them prohibitive. This scheme frustrated the traders of Buenos Aires, and a thriving informal, yet tolerated by the authorities, contraband industry developed inside the viceroyalties and with the Portuguese. This also instilled a deep resentment among porteños towards the Spanish authorities. Sensing these feelings, Charles III of Spain progressively eased

10028-610: The teams during the match, resulting in numerous injuries. When Hungary's Ervin Zádor suffered bleeding after being punched by Soviet Union's Valentin Prokopov , spectators attempted to join the violence, but they were blocked by police. The match was cancelled, with Hungary being declared the winner because they were in the lead. Melbourne was selected as the host city over bids from Buenos Aires , Mexico City, Montreal, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and San Francisco at

10137-615: The trade restrictions before finally declaring Buenos Aires an open port in the late 18th century. The capture of Portobelo in Panama by British forces also fueled the need to foster commerce via the Atlantic route, to the detriment of Lima-based trade. One of his rulings was to split a region from the Viceroyalty of Perú and create instead the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata , with Buenos Aires as

10246-456: The upper 70s%, which means the city is noted for moderate-to-heavy fogs during autumn and winter. July is the coolest month, with an average temperature of 11.0 °C (51.8 °F). Cold spells originating from Antarctica occur almost every year, and can persist for several days. Occasionally, warm air masses from the north bring warmer temperatures. The lowest temperature ever recorded in central Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires Central Observatory)

10355-491: The way with gold medals in the 100 and 200 metre sprints and the 4 x 100 metre relay. Tom Courtney barely overtook Great Britain's Derek Johnson in the 800 metre run, then collapsed from the exertion and needed medical attention. Ireland's Ronnie Delany ran an outstanding 53.8 over the last 400 metres to win the 1,500 metre run(also Ireland's last gold medal in track events), in which favourite John Landy of Australia finished third. There

10464-415: Was 43.3 °C (110 °F) on 29 January 1957. In January 2022, a heatwave caused power grid failure in parts of Buenos Aires metropolitan area affecting more than 700,000 households. Winters are rather cool with mild temperatures during the day and chilly nights. Highs during the season average 16.6 °C (61.9 °F) while lows average 8.3 °C (46.9 °F). Relative humidity averages in

10573-427: Was a major upset, marred briefly by controversy, in the 3,000 metre steeplechase. Little-known Chris Brasher of Great Britain finished well ahead of the field, but the judges disqualified him for interfering with Norway's Ernst Larsen , and they announced Sándor Rozsnyói of Hungary as the winner. Brasher's appeal was supported by Larsen, Rozsnyói, and fourth-place finisher Heinz Laufer of Germany. Subsequently,

10682-433: Was abandoned in 1541. For many years, the name was attributed to a Sancho del Campo, who is said to have exclaimed: How fair are the winds of this land! as he arrived. In 1882, after conducting extensive research in Spanish archives, Argentine merchant Eduardo Madero ultimately concluded that the name was instead closely linked with the devotion of the sailors to Our Lady of Buen Ayre. A second (and permanent) settlement

10791-465: Was all part of the British Empire . These are the top ten nations that won medals at the 1956 Games.   *   Host nation (Australia). John Ian Wing of Australia was also presented with a bronze medal, not included in the above table, for suggesting the closing ceremony have athletes as one nation. Multi-sport event The Ancient Olympic Games , first held in 776 BC,

10900-503: Was established in 1580 by Juan de Garay , who sailed down the Paraná River from Asunción , now the capital of Paraguay. Garay preserved the name originally chosen by Mendoza, calling the city Ciudad de la Santísima Trinidad y Puerto de Santa María del Buen Aire ("City of the Most Holy Trinity and Port of Saint Mary of the Fair Winds"). The short form that eventually became the city's name, "Buenos Aires", became commonly used during

11009-728: Was established, such as the Far Eastern Championship Games (1913), the Central American and Caribbean Games (1926) or the Pan American Games (1951). The Olympic Games are still the largest multi-sport event in the world in terms of worldwide interest and importance (though no longer in participation), but several others also have significance. Other Games are intended for handicapped or disabled athletes. The International Silent Games , first held in Paris in 1924, were

11118-420: Was presiding over the Olympics for the first time, was still doubtful about Melbourne and was not satisfied by an inspection trip to the city. Construction was well under way by then, thanks to a $ 4.5 million federal loan to Victoria, but it was behind schedule. He still held out the possibility that Rome might have to step in. By the beginning of 1956, though, it was obvious that Melbourne would be ready for

11227-467: Was ranked 91st in the world in 2018, being one of the best in Latin America . It is known for its preserved eclectic European architecture and rich cultural life . It is a multicultural city that is home to multiple ethnic and religious groups, contributing to its culture as well as to the dialect spoken in the city and in some other parts of the country. This is because since the 19th century,

11336-445: Was relayed to Melbourne after being lit at Olympia on 2 November 1956. Greek runners took the flame from Olympia to Athens . The flame was then transferred to a miner's lamp , flown by a Qantas Super Constellation aircraft, "Southern Horizon" to Darwin, Northern Territory . A Royal Australian Air Force English Electric Canberra jet bomber transported the flame to Cairns, Queensland , where it arrived on 9 November 1956 and

11445-414: Was so far ahead of Melbourne in preparations that it might be ready as a replacement site in 1956. Constructing of the sporting venues was given priority over the athlete's village. The village was designed as a whole new suburb with semi-detached houses and flats, the first village that both sexes could cohabitate the same buildings instead of gender designated sections. As late as April 1955, Brundage, who

11554-532: Was the police force under the authority of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. The force was created in 2010 and was composed of 1,850 officers. In 2016, the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Police and part of the Argentine Federal Police were merged to create the new Buenos Aires City Police force. The Buenos Aires City Police force began operations on 1 January 2017. Security in the city is now

11663-803: Was the precursor to the Modern Olympic Games , although its first edition only featured a footrace and the number of sporting competitions expanded at later editions. There were several other "games" held in Europe in the classical era : Other multi-sport festivals emerged in the Middle Ages in Europe, including the Cotswold Olimpick Games in England in the 1600s, the Highland Games in Scotland , and

11772-514: Was the site of two venues in the 1978 FIFA World Cup and one in the 1982 FIVB Men's World Championship . Most recently, Buenos Aires had a venue in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship and in the 2002 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship , hosted the 125th IOC Session in 2013, the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics and the 2018 G20 summit . Aragonese archives record that Catalan missionaries and Jesuits arriving in Cagliari ( Sardinia ) under

11881-499: Was −5.4 °C (22 °F) on 9 July 1918. Snow is very rare in the city: the last snowfall occurred on 9 July 2007 when, during the coldest winter in Argentina in almost 30 years, severe snowfalls and blizzards hit the country. It was the first major snowfall in the city in 89 years. Spring and autumn are characterized by changeable weather conditions. Cold air from the south can bring cooler temperatures while hot humid air from

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