PARADE OF 600 ATHLETES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26030, 6 February 1950, Page 6

PARADE OF 600 ATHLETES

Official Opening Of Empire Games IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE From Our Own Reporter AUCKLAND, February 5. No more stirring spectacle has probably ever been seen at Eden Park than that associated with the opening ceremony which preceded the athletic events at the Empire Games yesterday. Six hundred Empire, athletes paraded before the Governor-General of New Zealand (Sir Bernard Freyberg), who read a message from His Majesty the King. S. A. Lay, vice-captain of the New Zealand team, took the oath of amateurism, then a fanfare of trumpets, the salute of four guns to denote the opening of the fourth festival, the playing of bands, and the releasing of pigeons launched the Empire Games of 1950.

The Royal guard was provided by a large party of bluejackets, whose splendid marching was a feature of the ceremonial part of the afternoon. The bands in attendance were the Royal Marine Band and the Watersiders’ Silver Band, who played selections during the long gap between the pageantry and the start of the athletic programme. The New Zealand swimming captain, Peter Hanan, carried the Union Jack at the head of the parade of 12 countries, led by the large Australian contingent with the well-known surfer and Olympic standard bearer, J. L. McKay, in the van. The teams made a splendid impression as they marched around the ground, and in spite of the lack of colour in the New Zealand uniform the representatives of the Dominion enhanced their prestige by their showing in the parade. A picturesque touch was lent by the Fijians, who included a number of athletes wearing sulus. The oath of amateurism, taken by the veteran javelin thrower, Lay, a champion at the first Empire Games in 1930, and captain of the 1938 team, was as follows: “We declare that we are loyal subjects of His Majesty the King and that we will take part in the British Empire Games in the spirit of true sportsmanship, recognising the rules that govern them, and for the honour of our Commonwealth and the glory of sport.” His Majesty the King, in a special message read by the Governor-Gen-eral, stated: “I hope that the Games will be in every way successful and serve to bring closer together the many units of the Commonwealth and Empire who will be represented, at them.” His Majesty who was replying to a message Sir Bernard Freyberg had sent him, added: “I greatly appreciate the kind and loyal message that I received from all those assembled in Auckland for the British Empire Games.”

The Governor-General, in opening the games, said the message to the King had expressed the belief that the meeting of athletes would strengthen the good will and understanding between His Majesty’s peoples throughout the world and that all taking part would compete for the glory of sport and the honour of the Commonwealth an,d Empire. The official party included the Prime Minister (Mr Holland), Mr A. E. Porritt, chairman of the British Empire Games Federation, Mr J. A. C. Allum, Mayor of Auckland, Mr A. D. Bayfeild, president of the New Zealand Olympic Association and the British Empire Games Association, and Mr C. Rex Moore, chairman of the organising committee for the 1950 British Empire Games. In contrast with the last games in Sydney in 1938. when there was a loss of £7602, the 1950 games will make a profit. The financial success of the 1950 games was assured on Friday evening, when ticket sales for all events reached 63,000. With film rights added, this will meet all expenses and receipts from day-sale tickets will be profit.

DELAYS AT ATHLETIC MEETING

LAST EVENT NEARLY TWO HOURS BEHIND TIME From Ouf Own Reporter AUCKLAND, February 5. In contrast with the outstanding nature of the performances accomplished, the management of the athletic meeting which opened the Empire Games on Saturday left very much to be desired, and not even a provincial championship meeting would have brookea the delays that occurred.

The gathering concluded nearly two hours later than the scheduled time. There was a break of 50 minutes between the impressive opening ceremony and the first athletic event. ’ The record breaking began in the first event and it continued all afternoon, and so did the delay and hitches in the running of the programme, which ended in the climax that held up the start in the final of the 100 yards for more than 35 minutes, the race being run at seven minutes past six. Delays at Swimming In spite of the big crowd of 5000 that had to be handled at the swimming events in the evening, the doors at the Newmarket pool were not opened to the public until 7.10 p.m., and the first event started a quarter of an hour behind schedule.

This time lag increased as the evening wore on, and although the programme was not a long one. the delays between events were such that it was close to midnight before the two relays were completed.

CROWD AT SWIMMING EVENTS COMPLAINT BY OFFICIAL (New Zealand Press Association» AUCKLAND, February 5. Dissatisfaction with the way in which spectators had encroached on to the course at the Olympic Pool on Saturday evening when the first session of the Empire Games swimming was held, was expressed this evening by the president and secretary of the New Zealand Swimming Association (Mr Baxter O’Neill). He said the arrangements which had been made to keep the course clear had not been carried out. “The arrangement, as I understood it, was that the stand erected behind the diving tower was to be used for children.” said Mr O’Neill.* “They were not put there, but were on the concourse. Adults were also there. When the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) and other officials arrived they had trouble in getting to their seats because of the crowd of people who blocked the way. Some of the officials from Ardmore arrived to find their seats were already occupied.” Mr O’Neill said he did not expect there would be any trouble to-mor-row night

WITHDRAWAL OF D. M. HARRIS

From Our Own Reporter AUCKLAND, February 5 D. M, Harris' (New Zealand), who withdrew from the first heat of the 880 yards, stated after the race that he had torn adhesions in his right leg a fortnight ago and had been able to do comparatively little work since then. He had felt his leg cramp with 300 yards to go and withdrew at the same stage as in the Olympic Gaines race two years ago. In the race on Saturday Harris led for the first lap.