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Melbourne was chosen first of all, to honor a country who had been an active participant since 1896 and also to please the countries of the southern hemisphere who had been so far away from the different locations and also because of the season difference so the games took place during southern hemisphere summer.

Dates: November 22 - december 8, 1956 N.O.C. participants: 67 Number of sports: 17 Number of contests: 145 Number of athletes: 3184 Men: 2813 Women: 371 Opening: S.A.R. duc of Edimbourg Oath: John Landy Last torch bearer: Ron Clarke Bids towns: Buenos Aires (ARG), Los Angeles (USA), Détroit (USA), Mexico (MEX), Chicago (USA), Minneapolis (USA), Philadelphie (USA), San Francisco (USA)