WEMBLEY: VENUE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Chronicle (Levin), 30 December 1947, Page 4

WEMBLEY: VENUE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

When, next year, the Olympic Games are held in England, the main venue will be London's vast sports stadium and arenaat Wembley, says the B.B.C.'s overseas journal, London Calling. One may rest assux*ed that nothing will be left lindohe that ought to be done — and can be done — to make the "Games," as held in

London, a resounding success. His Majesty the King, as Patron, has provisionally agreed to • open the fifteenth Olympiad when the Oiympic Games are staged in England from July 29 'to AUgust 14. Fifty-three nations have been invited to take part in 17 different sports events and this, the Worl'd's 'greatest f estival of its kind, will attract to Wembley a vast assembly of athletes and spectators from many countries. The spectacle will serve as a fitting celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the start of this world-famous centre. Wembley, with its immense, outdoor stadium and modern, indoor arena, began as the home of the British Empire Exhihition in those mOre spacious, inter-war years, 1924-25. The stadium, finally Completed in 1923 at a cost of £750,000, is still known as the Empire Stadium. Today Wembley can justifiably lay claim to the title "Sports Centre of the British Empire," and un'der the guidance of its indefatigable managing director, Sir Arthur Elvin, one may^rest assured that nothing will be left undone that ought to be done — and cari be done — to make the "Games" a resbunding . success. The coming Olympiad will bring Wembley's wheel of fortune full cirde, for,. during the. British Empire Exhibition, the stadium Was the setting for many historic pageants and glittering spectacles. It Was at the opening of thig exhibition that the late King George V first spoke by radio to his subjects all over the world. After the great exhibition clOsed the Empire Stadium became .almost derelict, and it was not until 1927 that the present company established the stadium as one of the fOremost greyhoUnd racing courses ih the kingdom. SihCe that time It nfight be said that Wembley has never looked back. In 1929, for ekample, speedway racng was introduced to a wondering public and, after a -spmewhat shaky staft, became orie •of the fiibst sticcessful sporting attractions of our time. By 1938 a re- l cord crowd at the stadium wasl watching the firial of the world 's } speedway championship, and re- ! ■cqntly the gates had to be Closed fpr an ordinary inter-cltib match.. ■ In addition to greyhound a.nd ( speedway racing, Wembley is, of cburse, still England's home gfoiind : fbr international association foot- ' ball matches. It was in 1934 that Sir Arthur Elvin realised his gfeat dream of having under his control, not only England's biggest open aif stad- ; ium, but an ihdOof sports- afena to

rank with the finest in the world. That year the £200,000 Empire Pool and Sports Arbfia was opened by the Duke of Gloucester, and since then an amazing diversity of sporting attraetion's has been staged there. ®- The pool was opened with the swiihining, diving and water pold events of the British Empire Games, and these were followed by many national and international swimming, diving ad * water pold tournaments. Thanks to the ingenious construction of the pool, it was equally possible to hold ice hockey matches, six-day bicycle races, indoor athletics, lawn tennis and " tabie tennis championships, as well a"s- international boxing contests, roller skating and even a dog tournament and show. The outbreak of war put a tempprary end to most of Wembley's activities, although greyhound racing on a reduced scale was still pefmitted to be held. Football matches, together with several military and civil defence displays, were held at the stadium to help the Red CroSs fUnd and other war charities, and raised nearly £160,000. During the whole of the war the Empire Pool was requisitioned. First it was a distribiiting cehtre fof French and Belgian refugees, then a home for several hundreds of evacuees from Gibraltar. Later it became a centre for workmen who came to London to repair bomb damage. Finally, it was used as a stofehouse for the component parts of pre-fabricated houses. It was not ufitil 1945 that th6 Empire Pool could be finally derequisitioned, but in December of that year it was opened again to a sports -hungry public. Wembley, in the comparatiVeiy shoft time since VJ-Day, has quickly got back into its pre-war stride. Record crowds have been seen at the greyhound race meetings, as well aS the speedway. meetings, while every eveht held at- the Empire Pool has attracted capacity crowds. Alterations 'are already in hand at Wembley to meet the needs of Such a Iai-gs feStival as the Olympic Games, and special care is beiiig .taken to see that Competitors arid qmcials, as well as the general public, are properly looked after. ^•^Ln^mal-facilities of the Em{iire Stoaium and Pool will continiie until a short time before the Games, and then a suddeii transformation will take place. A special warmmg-up" track will have beeri xaid, a first-class running track with seven lanes will encircle the famous arena inside the stadium and cafi parks, ^ restaurants, rest h2mS ? dfessing rooriis will have been aiTanged.