CANOPY OF SPORT

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 259, 15 November 1939, Page 2

CANOPY OF SPORT

CENTENNIAL EXHIBIT (due of the exhibits at the Centennial Ihxhibition which is likely to attract more than passing attention is lhe “Health, Sport and .Fitness” Kxhihil which lias been secured Iroin Fugland. It was taken on tour throughout Great Britain and aroused so much interest that its promoters, the Royal Lnstitutc of British Architects, found difficulty in satisfying the many requests for visits. It aims by model and by photographs at giving a picture of what is possible in the way oi properly planned facilities tor sport aim yecreation. The Central Model is one of the most striking sections of the exhibit and illustrates an ideal Sports Centre for a town or city, it contains' pitches and courts fer all kinds of games, open air bathing pools, a children’s pod. a covered bath, a large gymnasium, an open air theatre, a restaurant, sunbathing terraces and a stadium lor football and other athletic displays. The photographic sections comprise some 700 photographic enlargements from all parts of the world. One ol the most striking is the “Open Spaces” section. This' section deals with parks and! squares and forest reserves. The ‘“Buildings for Sport and Recreation” section illustrates the best examples from all over the world of swimming pools, stadium, gymnasia-, sports centres. squash courts, pavilions and sports club-hous-es. It is impossible to describe the elaborate beauty of some of these such as the Berlin Olympic Stadium or llie open air swimming pool at Adclbc.deii, Switzerland. .

A more utilitarian but very instructive section is the “I-very Oaj Health” section, depicting how health and well-being may be improved by town planning and collective health services . Seme very human studies of children at play are contained in the “Healthy Childhood’’ section. The fifth and final section. the “Escape from the Town” section. shows the varied facets oi healthy life in views oi week-end cottages, youth hostels and holiday camps, caravans and yachts.

The Physical Welfare ami Recreation Branch is optimistic that this exhibit will give valuable information to local bodies and private individuals alike concerning facilities foe health, sport and fitness.’