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Last updated:
June 17, 2021
What do I need to know?
The date, the sport or the event.
Some athletes have been named.
How do I search?
If you are not sure what you are looking for, start with a general keyword, such as ‘athletics’. That will bring up thumbnails of all the photographs for that sport, which you can browse through.
About these records
For the 1956 Olympics, press photographers of the day agreed to make all the images they took available in a common pool. This comprehensive collection of images was managed by the Melbourne Olympiad Organising Committee and are now available to view online through our collection.
Next Steps
You can request a high-resolution digital copy of any of these images by filling out a copy request form here.
What are in these records?
Nearly every sport featured at the Games has been captured, plus the opening and closing ceremonies.
As well as moments of competition, there are many images of competitors before and after events, both medalists and other competitors.