OLYMPIC GAMES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27657, 13 May 1955, Page 10

OLYMPIC GAMES

“Melbourne Will Be Ready”

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) SAN FRANCISCO, May 11. Cr John Buchan, of Melbourne, told reporters yesterday that everything m Melbourne would be ready for the Olympic Games in 1956. He said recent statements by Mr Avery Brundage, president of the International Olympic Committee, casting doubt on the ability of Melbourne to complete the preparations were “unfortunate.” . , . « Cr. Buchan, who arrived in ban Francisco today, said the Olympic stadium and Olympic village had been planned to be completed in time for the Games, and not by Easter of this year, when Mr Brundage had gone to Australia to look into arrangements. He said the building of the 40,000seat stand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was 25 per cent, complete, and was scheduled for completion in June, 1956. Three months had been allowed for laying down the track, compared with two weeks in London for the 1948 Games. , , All the major hotels had already been earmarked for international visitors to the Games, and offers of accommodation in homes were being received at the rate of 50 a day. “No American visitor to the Games need feel he will have inadequate accommodation or inadequate treatment when he comes down to Melbourne,” he said. “Melbourne’s archaic liquor laws will probably be tempered for the Games.” He added: “When the Duke of Edinburgh opens the Games, Melbourne will be a carnival city.”

Cr. Buchan brought with him an official invitation from the Lord Mayor of Melbourne to the Mayor of San Francisco to attend the Games.