OLYMPIC FLAME LIT FOR GAMES

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28133, 23 November 1956, Page 15

OLYMPIC FLAME LIT FOR GAMES

Stirring Pageantry At Opening Ceremony

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 11 p.m.) MELBOURNE, November 22. A flame burning high above Melbourne’s magnificent green Olympic oval marks the opening of the first Olympic Games ever held in the Southern Hemisphere. Carried across the world from Greece, the home of the Games, the flame reached Melbourne this afternoon.

It was carried on the last lap of its journey from the old world to the new by Australia’s youngest champion miler, Ron Clarke. Cheered by the 120,000 spectators who packed the arena Clarke carried the torch around the track and then climbed a itairway to set alight the symbolic flame.

The runners arrival and the brief, dramatic moment while he held the torch aloft at«the stadium entrance were the climax to a colourful afternoon of stirring, colourful pageantry. Three minutes before Clarke ran on to the arena, the Duke of Edinburgh performed the official opening ceremony. This opening speech was simply: “I declare open the Olympic Games of 1956, celebrating the 16th Olympiad of the modern era.” Spread out before him in a glorious pattern of colour as he looked down from the Royal box were the brightly-uniformed Olympic teams of 68 nations. The colours varied from the brilliant blue French blazers and berets to Denmark’s scarlet end the rather sombre black of New Zealand.

The whole brilliant pattern stood out against the spring green of the arena and the brick-red athletic track.

A few moments after the Duke’s words echoed across the ground, thousands of pigeons were released to flutter overhead and the roar of a 21-gun lalute announced that the Games had begun.

For the crowd, the most spectacular part of the ceremony, which kept them applauding almost continuously for an hour, was the parade of the 68 national teams around the ground. One team. Panama, withdrew from the opening ceremony.

Picturesquely-clad athletes paraded past and they all got a rousing welcome. The teams varied in size to the big Australian squad marching six abreast down to the four-men teams of Hong Kong and Uganda. The crowd showed it already has its favourites in warm-heated applause for the immaculately turned-out little squads from Fiji and British Guiana, and in prolonged cheering for the Hungarians. Some of the European teams had plenty of supporters, and Italy had its own cheer section of Italian sailors I’om a visiting warship.

New Zealand's team, reduced in size because the oarsmen at Lake Wendouree were unable to parade, received a rousing reception as soon as the spectators saw the black blazers appear.

The New Zealand girl athletes’ attire was particularly admired. For smartness in appearance, however, they were well outclassed by several of the teams, especially the British and Japanese. The bearing of the Japanese, who wore blue blazers, cream hats, and cream slacks, was faultless.

The whole ceremony was performed in a warm, friendly atmosphere, and there were friendly gestures between the teams. As the Russians, who looked as though they had been practising for months, marched flawlessly into place, they were applauded by their American neighbours. The Russians responded to the crowd’s applause by waving red handkerchiefs as they marched from the arena. The oath of amateurism was taken for all the competitors by Australia’s world mile record-holder. John Landy. Standing on the rostrum, with the Australian flag in his right hand, he declared:—

“We swear that we will take part in the Olympic Games in fair competition. respecting the regulations which govern them, and with the desire to participate in the true spirit of sportsmanship for the honour of our country and the glory of sport.”