New year, a new historical Olympics to explore! Thanks to you, our listeners, in 2026 we'll be exploring the Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympic Games.

In our first episode, Jill looks at Cortina's bidding process, which was the last of its kind. She also examines the sports program and what additions were--and weren't--made. Plus, Cortina had to do a lot of construction in the area to have Olympic-ready venues and spectator-friendly facilities. Did 1956 Italians manage construction projects differently than their 2026 counterparts?

These Games had a number of firsts, including live televised events. We get to some of the other firsts, including what could be the first Olympic appearance of a future VIP. Listen to find out who was there!

For a transcript and complete list of sources used in this episode, visit: http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo credit: Olympics.com

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Keep the Flame Alive: Games History Moment with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown is released monthly. In 2026, these episodes explore the 7th Winter Olympic Games at Cortina d'Ampezzo in 1956. Look for our regular episodes every week, with daily editions during the Olympics and Paralympics.

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