STAGE READY FOR THE GAMES

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28089, 3 October 1956, Page 8

STAGE READY FOR THE GAMES

Final Touches To Stadium PREPARATIONS IN MELBOURNE (From a Reuter Correspondent) MELBOURNE. The Melbourne Cricket Groundmain stadium for the 1956 Olympic Games—is almost ready for the triumphs and failures of the world’s top amateur athletes. The running track on which several Olympic and world records are expected to be set, was laid recently. A fortnight before the Games open on November 22, the jumping and throwing areas and the steeplechase water jump will be prepared. , The base of the cinders running track was laid 12 months ago. This has now been top-dressed with three inches of a mixture similar to that used for the 1948 Olympic Games at Wembley stadium, London. The special surface arrived by ship in June. It could not be laid immediately because the ground was needed for Australian Rules Football. Hours after a record crowd of 116.000 spectators had witnessed the premiership match on September 15, workmen moved in. Using slab-cutters and mechanical shovels they shifted tons of turf placed over the track base to protect it from damage by footballers. Last year, earth-moving equipment gouged out 15,000 tons of clay and silt and 3000 tons of soil to ensure the ground, which previously had a fall of seven feet from north to south, met Olympic standards. The arena was lowered four feet at the north end and raised three feet at the south. Heavy winter rain proved an elaborate draining system to be ineffective and the ground become waterlogged. After further drainage works the engineer in charge, Mr 'Hugh Campbell said: “We now have no worries about the state of the arena during the Games.” The massive stadium, spread over 43 acres, is encircled by grandstands, including a new three-tiered stand recently completed. Hopes that the ground would comfortably hold 120.000 were dashed when the 116.000 spectators at the football final became embroiled in the greatest sporting crush Australia has known. No Crowding But chief executive officer for the Games organising committee, Sir William Bridgeford, announced such crowding would not occur during the Games. “Only reserved seats will be sold,” he said. “There will be limited standing room in one section but crowds going to this spot can be regulated.” The 101-year-old Melbourne Cricket Ground has staged some stirring sights —tense Test cricket . and football premiership matches, and children’s demonstrations before Royalty—but the Games opening ceremony with 6000 athletes of 70 odd nations on parade promises to outshine them all. At 3 p..m. on November 22, the Duke of Edinburgh's arrival at the stadium will be the signal for the parade to begin. Athletes will enter the arena through a gap in the grandstands. Greece, originator of the ancient Games, will lead the parade, followed in alphabetical order by other competing nations, with Australia, as host nation, last. After marching around the stadium track each contingent will line up in the centre of the arena facing the Royal Box. An Olympic VIP will mount a central tribune and deliver a speech of welcome. The Duke of Edinburgh will then rise and say: “I declare open the Olympic Games of 1956 celebrating the XVlth Olympaid of the modern era.” A fanfare of trumpets, the raising of the Olympic flag, the release of thousands of pigeons, and a salute of guns will herald the arrival of the Olympic torch. It will be carried by an Australian runner, as yet unnamed, but certain to be a former Olympic golo medalist. He will circle the arena with the torch which was lit in Athens brought to Australia by air, and carried for one mile by each of 2750 runners from Cairns in North Queensland to Melbourne. The flame will burn in a special cauldron above the pariade entrance until Games end. A 2000 voice choir will sing the specially composed Olympic hymn. Then, a representative of the Australian team, surrounded by the flagbearers of competing nations, will mount the tribune and take the Olympic oath. Next day, the Olympic contests begin. The closing ceremony will be held at the stadium on December 8. Workmen will then again move in to restore the arena for football and cricket. The track will be excavated and the arena regraded to give a better fall for drainage before being regrassed. '