The summer Olympics of 1960 was held in Rome. Rome finally got its chance to stage the Olympic Games, 54 years after Italy had to give up hosting the Games. The games saw a close union between sport and culture in the city on the banks of the Tiber with a rich historical past. The marble stadium, the Caracalla thermal baths, the Albano lake, the Constantine triumphal arch-- ancient surroundings for the Olympic competition. The Games in Rome were the last Games in which South Africa was allowed to participate for a period of 32 years until 1992-- as the International Olympic Committee could not tolerate the racist policies of the South African government.
Rome was a coming-out party for 18-year-old Louisville boxer Cassius Clay who won the Olympic light heavyweight crown. Sprinter Wilma Rudolph and swimmer Chris von Saltza each won three gold medals for the U.S. Rudolph, who was one of her father's 22 children and who couldn't walk without braces until she was nine, struck gold at 100 and 200 meters and anchored the winning 400-meter relay team. Von Saltza won the 400-meter freestyle, placed second in the 100-free and anchored the winning 4x100-free and medley relays. Finally, the greatest amateur basketball team ever assembled represented the U.S. and won easily. The 12-man roster included Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Jerry Lucas, Walt Bellamy and Terry Dischinger–four of whom would become NBA Rookies of the Year from 1961-64.
source: http://www.olympic.org/rome-1960-summer-olympics
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