OLYMPIC FLAME FOR BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25550, 19 July 1948, Page 7

OLYMPIC FLAME FOR BRITAIN

FIRE BEING BORNE FROM GREECE GREEK ATHLETES BEGIN JOURNEY (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, July 17. Greek athletes carrying torches with fire which will light the flame at Britain’s Wembley Stadium for the Olympic Games began a relay of 2000 miles by land and sea from the ruins of the Temple of Zeus. The first runner was dressed in full battle uniform, with steel helmet and arms, as he waited to receive the torch, but as the torch burst into flame he doffed his martial dress and laid down his rifle. Clad in shorts and holding the torch aloft, he sped away on the first 3J kilometres of the journey. The ancient lamp from which the flame was kindled came from a Greek museum. It will be sent to London for presentation to Prihcess Elizabeth. Special precautions were taken for the safety of persons taking part in the ceremony. Greek armoured forces lined the road to Olympia, and the surrounding heights were strongly guarded. General Markos, the Greek rebel leader, has ordered Communists in the Peloponnesus to try to prevent the Olympic flame from reaching* London, according to a guerrilla broadcast.

SUCCESS PREDICTED FOR OLYMPIC GAMES (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON. July 17. Lord Burghley, chairman of the orSanising committee of the Olympic rames, said the Games would be a success from every point of view. The new track at Wembley would be “perfect,” as the result of experiment which had lasted two years. He thought the committee would cover all its expenditure. Tickets were selling extremely well, although some nations had returned a great many, as they were unable for various reasons to take up their full allocations.