The Modern Olympics
1960 -- Rome, Italy
5,348 athletes, 83 nations
Some of the events in the glamorous 1960 Games were housed in ancient Roman sites. Fencing was held in the ancient Palace of Congresses and wrestling took place in the Maxentius Basilica, a public hall built in the year 300. New facilities for the Games included an incredible 100,000-seat Olympic Stadium, the Olympic Velodrome and a seven-pool swimming stadium.
Click for Olympic posters
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The Games also witnessed some incredible athletic performances. A total of 100 records were broken in Rome.
Two of the Games most famous athletes were Cassius Clay, a.k.a. Muhammad Ali, and one of the Emperor Haile Selaissieis Imperial Bodyguards, Abebe Bikila from Ethiopia. Bikila ran the marathon barefoot and won the gold medal. It was only his third marathon.
Canadian Highlights: Canada performed poorly. The Canadian team of ninety-seven athletes brought home only one medal, a silver in rowing.
Medal Count: Gold 0, Silver 1, Bronze 0
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PREVIOUS OLYMPICS - 1960-1968 PHOTOS |
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