Sweden Stockholm
XVI Summer International Olympic Games (Equestrian)

The Australian quarantine laws required a six-month quarantine period for horses imported to the country. This precluded Melbourne from being able to host the equestrian events. So, seven other cities forwarded their bids for the right to host the Equestrian Games. Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, was selected by the overwhelming majority of votes.
159 athletes (including 12 female ones) of 29 nations competed in the equestrian events. They had played for 6 sets of medals.
At the opening ceremony of the Stockholm Equestrian Games, the Olympic Flame was lit by three Sweden equestrian athletes Hans Wikne, Karin Lindberg and Henry Ericsson. The Athlete’s Oath was voiced by Olympic Champion Henri Saint Cir.
Officially, the Games were opened by King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden.
Unique medals were minted for competitors and winners of the equestrian events in Stockholm.
OBVERSE: a nude horseman with a headband and chlamys on his shoulders riding leftward, with the legend in Swedish “XVI Olympiadens Ryttartävlingar / 1956 Stockholm” (English: XVIth Olympiad Equestrian Games, Stockholm – 1956) over the horseman around the rim, and the designer’s initials “J.S.” under the horizontal line.
REVERSE: a composition of a torch superimposed on five Olympic rings with OLYMPIA in ancient Greek in the background, and the legend in Swedish “Jeux Olympiques” around the top rim, and the Olympic motto in Latin “CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS” around the bottom rim.

BRONZE COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL
The Stockholm Games commemorative medal was made of the unique vertical oval shape. It had a pictorial scene on its obverse only. The design was also unique - a nude horseman on his mount with the legend in Swedish “XVI Olympiadens’ ryttartavlingar Stockholm 1956” (English: XVI Olympiad Equestrian Games, Stockholm – 1956) around the rim. There were also the Olympic rings ornamented with laurel leaves under the horizontal line.

BRONZE WINNER MEDAL (THIRD PRIZE) 

Metal	bronze
Diameter	50 mm
Thickness	5,5 mm
Weight	92,3 g
Designer	John Sjoesvaerd
Mint	Lagerstroms Fabriks AB (Mjolby, Sweden)

COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL

Metal	bronze
Height	50 mm
Width	4 mm
Thickness	39 mm
Weight	92,3 g
Designer	John Sjoesvaerd
Mint	Lagerstroms Fabriks AB (Mjolby, Sweden)