In 1949 the International Olympic Council decided by just one vote that Melbourne would host the Olympic games in 1956. For the first time, the Games would take place in the southern hemisphere. After many difficulties in organising the Games, including trying to decide where the main stadium would be, finally the Games were a success. Sixty-seven of the 91 nations invited actually competed. At these Games Australia had its largest-ever team (291 athletes) and won 35 medals – its highest-ever total. Some famous winners included runners Betty Cuthbert and Marjorie Jackson. The 1956 Games became known as ‘the Friendly Games’, partly because for the first time at the closing ceremony athletes all walked together, rather than marching in national teams.