Summary

Programme for the Basketball events at the Melbourne Olympic Games held at the Exhibtion Building in Carlton in 1956. In addition to the basketball the Exhibition Building was also the venue for weightlifting and wrestling. A special annexe was erected to serve as a basketball stadium. This was demolished in 1972. Other events were held in the Great Hall.

Physical Description

Small booklet with navy and white cover, 18pp, being official programme for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Basketball events held at the Exhibition Building Annexe between November 27 - December 1, 1956. The front cover has the Olympic rings and torch depicted at the top. Below this is a sketch of two men playing basketball. Inside, the names of members of the organising committees, a timetable of events, list of teams and team-members, explanation of referee's signals, information re transport to events. A map is printed on the back cover showing all Olympic competition venues in metro- politan Melbourne.

Significance

In the years since the Royal Exhibition Building was constructed in 1880, it has played a significant role in the commercial, social and sporting life of Melbourne and Victoria. It has hosted a variety of local and international events. The largest of these events is arguably the International Exhibitions staged in the 1880s. In 1956 Melbourne was the host city for the XVI Olympic Games, another international event which focussed world attention on Melbourne. It was an event through which Melbourne (and Australia) sought to show the world its sophistication and progress. The REB Collection contains a variety of objects which relate to Olympic events held at the REB during the 1956 Olympics.

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