NINTH OLYMPIAD

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1928, Page 1

NINTH OLYMPIAD

AMSTERDAM EN FETE. AN IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE. Australian Press Assn.—United Service AMSTERDAM, July 27. The American Olympic representatives, with an expeditionary force of nearly 300 perfectly trained athletes, sumptuously equipped, arrived in a floating hotel. There is an army of officials, highly skilled coaches and a galaxy of talent. •, AMSTER.DAAI, July 27. In preparation for the eve of 1 1 opening of the Olympic Games with the march past of two thousand of tho world’s champions in many fields of sport, Amsterdam is a blaze of colour, and the flags of all the competing nations' are flying above the quaint old-time squares, or hanging from the windows of ancient towering buildings. The narrow streets and avenues are brilliant with bunting. Everywhere the Olympia flag—blue, white, orange—lias the place of honour. Many of the 347 bridges spanning the canals are decorated with evergreens and flagpoles flaunting the Olmypie colours, while tho avenues of lime trees 1 (ordering the canals are festooned with electric lights in preparation for great illuminations. A TOAVER OF BABEL. LONDON, July 28. Amsterdam is a virtual Tower of Babel. Forty-seven nations arc*there represented by approximately five thousand athletes. The Ninth Olympiad is the biggest in the history of the Games. Curiously enough this tremendous influx of the cream of the world’s athletes and the legion of tongues have not caused the placid Dutchmen to take more than a passing interest. The whole excitement is confined to the foreigners. Even tho excellent chance of a gratis view of the training of sportsmen who are known the world over fails to attract the Dutchman in the street any more than a bicycling messenger hoy. Tt is a fact, that if he stolidly hides his interest behind Ids daily./rootin'" of cigars and lager. As a business proposition the Games are another matter, for the Netherlanders are reaping a rich harvest.

The opening will he spectacular. Prince Henry with his consort, Queen AA’ilhcmina, will he driven to the Stadium in a State coach, and they will watch tho spectacular parade of the nations each competitor wearing his other national colours, preceded by their national flags. As each team finishes the circuit, it will form up in a column facing the Stand of Honour. Thereupon Prince Henry will declare the Games open. Immediately there will be a fanfare of trumpets and a cannon shot. The Olympic Flag will bo hoisted and fifty pigeons simultaneously released, each with its neck beribboired with the colours of one of the competing nations. Thereafter the ceremony of administering the oath to athletes will ho held. One nominated by Holland will advance to the front of the stand hearing tho flag of his country, and surrounded by all the other standard hearers he will pronounce the oath, whereupon each will subscribe by lifting bis right arm. The oath reads: “AVe swear to present ourselves at tho Olympiad as fair competitors, respecting the rules governing the Games, being desirous of participating therein, in a chivalrous spirit for the honour of our country and of snort.

THE AVEATHER CLEARS. AMSTERDAM, July 28.

Relentless all night rain, after several weeks of glorious weather, again gave jflaee to perfect weather in the nick of time to ensure the successful opening of the Olympiad. 'Hie Prince Consort, in the name of Queen AA’ilhemina, performed the opening in the presence of a brilliant suite. The sun was shining gloriously ns he took the salute amid the strains of the Dutch National Anthem. Tumultuous cheering followed, thou the majestic parade of the athletes began, the flower of the world’s manhood and womanhood filing past the royal box and taking up their positions. Greece, hv virtue of having inaugurated the Olympiad, headed the procession, and thereafter the nations followed in alphabetical order. Owing, to a regrettable misunderstanding with the gate-keeper, the French competitors did not participate in the parade. THE SPEECHES. Tho teams, each behind its flag, took up their positions facing the Royal box. The'lnternational and Executive Committees formed a semicircle behind the grandstand. Every word was audible as the President, Dr Devisser, and the President of the Executive, Baron Schimmol Pennink A r nn Der Oyo, spoke, inviting the Prince Consort to proclaim the Games open. Dr Devisser expressed pride, despite the Government’s refusal to support the Olympiad financially, that private sympathy bad boon unprecedentedly awakened, and ho paid a tribute to the beauty and revival of tho ancient games. lie added that unimpeachable honesty and good faith could rule the contests. Every competitor would have the conviction that the winner would achieve personal and national honour only when the victory was secured with a shining weapon and clean hands. “Let n flame of a deep religious passion,” lie said, “kindle the competitors’ souls, since this alone can maintain the high tradition and realise the sublime ideal of the Olympic Games. Baron Schimmol Pennink A’an Der Ove referred to the growing feeling that man’s mental and physical development should go hand in hand in order to achieve the harmonious whole. These contests would greatly realise that ideal. The Committee welcomed all the athletes and wished them an honourable contest. He requested Prince Hendrick of the Netherlands to open the Games. BRILLIANT PAGEANT. AMSTERDAAL July 29. The ninth Olympiad opened brilliantly, the pageantry strikingly illustrating the world-wide growth of snort. A packed stadium applauded tho hour-long procession of the world’s athletic armies, from^ solitary Panama, whose standard was borne by n Boy Scout, to the battalions from Holland, America and Germany, while the appearance of every division of the British Empire was warmly cheered. the only drawback was France’s regrettable absence and dull skies, after a fortnight’s ideal weather. From the moment that the Greek flag signalised the entry of a body of extremely up to date young men, as the upholders of the" centuries-old Sporting tradition, till the Inst Nether*

lander proudly saluted the Prince Consort, forty thousand spectators received a lesson, not only of the universality of sport, but in geography. The lesser known European countries whqse names are involuntarily associated in tho English speaking mind with musical comedy plots sent a surprisingly strong representation of upstanding men and women.

The massed effect of the flags and uniforms of forty-three nations, in the centre of tho arena, provided a memorable spectacle. Surely there is no greater tribute to the penetrating effects of sport than the extent to which tho Eastern countries have embraced AVestern customs and costumes in the endeavour to establish themselves on an equal footing with the rest of the world. For instance, the Turks paraded in smart cricket caps and blazers. while silk hatted and morningcoated officials headed japan’s group of equally modern attired competitors.

FRENCH TEAM’S MISFORTUNE. AMSTERDAM, July 29. There was a sensation created at the Olympiad when the French team was not in tho parade. The sensation deepened when it was rumoured that they were so incensed at being barred from entry that they might refuse to participate in the Games. It has been ascertained that when tho Frouch team went to the Stadium yesterday, having been authorised to view the grounds, the gatekeeper refused their admittance. An argument followed, which culminated in M. Paul Mericamp, the Secretary-General of tlm French Olympiad Federation, being struck in the face. The French team then withdrew. The Dutch Olympio Committee, on hearing of the occurrence, apologised and tho incident was believed to have been closed, especially as the team was informed that tho gatekeeper would be dismissed. AA r hen the team arrived to-day, however, the same gatekeeper was on duty, and the team therefore promptly depnrted. Tt is said that they will decline to participate in the Games. It is understood tho Frenchmen’s pique has been intensified because the Germans and tho Finns have been allowed to train on the Olympic track, to which the French have not been admitted. The French, owing to their absence from the opening ceremony, did not take tho oath to which the other teams subscribed. Therefore their participance in tho Games in additionally doubtful. LONDON, July 29. Tho French Olympic incident has been cleared up. France will participate in the Games. lIOAY AUSTRALIANS ARE PLACED. AMSTERDAM, July 29. The cyclists’ test race was not held, owing to a wet track. It is being held next week. Tho athletes yesterday spent an easy day, in view of Sunday’s races, in the draw for which they have had mixed luck. Carlton the young Australian sprinter, is in the eleventh heat of the hundred metres. Ho is opposed by five unknown men, but Australia’s eight hundred metres runners have each drawn particularly hot opposition. AAOiytc in the second heat, meets the world’s record holder, Peltzer; while Stewart in the fifth heat opposes the American Hahn- and the German Englehardt. .Many expect the eight hundred metres-to provide the greatest race of the Gamos. Tho first two in each heat of tlie one hundred metres will qualify for the semi-finals, and the first three in the eight hundred metres heats. The New Zealander, Porritt, competes in the thirteenth heat of the hundred metres.

AVatson, assuming that lie is able to start in the four hundred metres hurdles, meets the Britishers Livingstone and Learmontli, and the Frenchman A r eil Heavy. The showers yesterday should greatly improve the track on Sunday. Carlton is resting. He is confident of being fit on tho day of the race.