Huge Crowd Greets Duke

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

Huge Crowd Greets Duke

Long before the Duke appeared, every seat in the huge, flag-bedecked amphitheatre was filled and hundreds looked down from every standingroom vantage point. Moved to fever pitch by stirring national songs from the white-helmeted bandsmen, the crowd gave vent to its feelings as soon as the Royal car moved on to the arena. A continuous roar of cheering followed the Duke as, seated alone in naval uniform, he waved out gaily to the crowd. As he passed, each section of the crowd stood and cheered until finally the car stopped before the Royal box. and a tall Boy Scout opened the door and stood back to give an arm-breaking salute, which got its own special recognition from the spectators. For a few moving and unforgettable moments. 120.000 people stood still in silence for the playing of the National Anthem. The Duke was met by the Australian Prime Minister <Mr Menzies) and the chairman of the Melbourne Olympic Organising Committee 'Mr W. S. Kent-Hughes), and escorted to his place in the new stand built specially for the Games.

Greeks Head Parade Then, headed by the blue-coated Greeks, who entered the stadium by the northern gate right on time, the parade of athletes of 68 nations marched round the track. The Duke took the salute from his box just opposite the official dais. The exuberant Australians, who had been waiting years for this moment, were not slow to shpw their appreciation of all the teams, although naturally enough their loudest and longest cheering was reserved for the massive Australian team, which was last to enter the arena. Large groups of new Australians ranged around the . arena gave their own countrymen terrific encouragement. Following the Greeks. th< nations came in by alphabetical order, taking just over an hour from first to last. The teams ranged in size from huge groups entered by Australia, Russia, and the United States, to the three men from Ceylon and Iceland. The Bermuda team, which comprised three men u women, set a new standard of sartorial -’egance by wearing light fawn Berm shorts and yellow kneelength sox. As was expects.-’, the Hungarians, who were given an ''tional welcome to Australia, enters - ”-e arena to prolonged cheering, but ’itics were forgotten for the day and tn«_ •** Russian team marched into cheerin o . which although not as prolonged as that given for some of the teams, was a reflection on the great sportsmanship of the Australian public. While it was the larger teams that dominated the colourful scene, it was the smaller nations, with their sometimes exotic dress, that provided much of the colour. There were the Indians with their blue uniform —a woman member of the team wore a sari—and their turbans, and the Pakistanis and their ceremonial turbans. Perhaps the most striking figure in the whole parade was a huge bearded, whiteturban ned man in the team from North Borneo.

Greetings for Teams Once all the teams had assembled in the arena and the arrival of the Olympic torch was awaited, Mr KentHughes welcomed the visitors to Australia. to Melbourne, and to the Games. “Your presence is irreiutable evidence that the Olympic flame burns brighter and brighter as the years roll by,” he said. “The delicate fabric of the raiment of civilisation may be temporarily torn by the tempests of international misunderstanding, but the Olympic spirit outrides such storms ■nd gathers strength and radiance by comparison.” said Mr Hughes. “Today begins a new chapter, full of promise, in the Games. We are all inheritors of a noble and magnificent tradition. We make our contribution With both pride and humility, not only as heirs of the past, but also as builders for a still more splendid future. “May the 1956 Games give increased

strength and renewed hcpe to all mankind in their struggle for a closer understanding between all men,” he said.

As the Olympic flame was borne into the arena, many of the assembled athletes (including the New Zealanders) broke ranks and ran to the edge of the track to get a closer glimpse and to take photographs of the last runner in the mighty Olympic relay—the longest ever staged. After the Olympic hymn had been sung by a massed choir of more than 500 voices and the Archbishop of Melbourne (the Most Rev. J. J. Booth) had given his speech of dedication, John Landy took the Olympic oath on behalf of the assembled competitors. The choir sang the “Hallelujah” chorus. The 1956 Games were open.