THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 16

THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE

Germany Has Attended To Every Detail MIGHTY ARMY OF ATHLETES At Olympic games the problem of accommodation for the foreign guests hag presented great difficulties. As far back as the classical games at Athens the athletes took up their lodging at Olympia a month before the beginning of the games for their last preparations in private, but it was not until the tenth Olympic games at Los Angeles in 1932 that this tradition was revived and adapted to modern times. Without doubt the lodging of the athletes of all nationalities in the Olympic village on the Baldwin Hills contributed greatly to the unusual success of the Los Angeles games. It was here that the Olympic competitors experienced the true spirit of the festival. It is natural that each succeeding nation .should benefit from the example of former games, and Germany not only studied carefully the model organisation of the Los Angeles facilities. but paid special attention to the methods of providing comfortable accommodation and service for the athletes, .states Captain AV. Furstner, Commandant of the Olympic Village at Berlin, in “Olympic Gaines, 1936.’’ At the request of the Reich Chancellor, the German army came to the assistance of the organising committee for the eleventh Olympic games, and undertook the providing of suitable land and construction of an Olympic village, as well as the arranging for the comfort and entertainment of the masculine participants. When the sporting youth of the world assembles in the 137-acre Olympic village in Doeberitz, they will find quarters and accommodation equal to those they left in their native countries, as the Germany army has taken care that nothing shall be left undone in providing comfort for its guests. There will be no disturbances here in the middle of the attractive Brandenburg landscape, and the athletes will be able to concentrate upon t.be contests ahead of them. Ideal Setting. Surrounded by forests and lakes, fields and green meadows, containing a hill and 35 acre grove, and set in a paradise of wild life and birds, the Olympic village is part of an everchanging landscape. Here, just 15 minutes by autobus from the Reich sport field, the Olympic village will provide a quiet and attractive dwelling place for the numerous competitors where they may renew their strength and confidence, and their spirits worn by days of competing. . This is the ideal which the German army set out to attain in constructing the Olympic village. In the designing of the 140 houses, each of which bears the name of a German city, special care was taken of the needs and tastes of the athletes who will occupy them, so that each may feel that he has been especially favoured in tlie house allotted to him. The landscaping of the vilage also came into consideration, and as few trees as possible were removed. A thousand and one small items also had to be dealt with, such as the laying of streets and paths, the planning of electric, telephone, heating _ and water connections, sanitation, drainage an 1 fire protection. The 6000 square metre swimming pool and Finnish “Sauna,” the athletic field with its 400 metre running track, the refreshment booths, the stand for tlie local musical concerts, and numerous other facilities add to the attractiveness of the village and its suroundings. Other Facilities. ‘ Besides the dwellings, there are also several larger buildings, including tlie entrance buildings with shops, Customs office, post office, branch of the Deutselier Bank, administrative offices, the hall of the nations for the various national attaches, and the restaurant for visitors; the dining hall containing 38 separate dining rooms and kitchens so that each team may have its own cooking and national dishes; the Hindenburg bouse containing gymnasia, offices for foreign physicians, and a large auditorium for theatrical presentations, cinemas and variety shows; and finally, the swimming hall, sport hall and hospital in which even a dental office has been provided. At the command of the Reich War Minister, an officer of the army has been asisgned to each nation as host and adviser. Furthermore, the North German Lloyd Steamship Company has provided two stewards experienced in taking care of the needs of guests from many countries for each dwelling house, and 150 young sportsmen will be constantly nt the disposal of the village inhabitants for errands and general service. The post office containing two telephone switchboards with 550 connections is in keeping with the most modern of all villages. The Olvmpie village is for men alone, and its inhabitatanls will comprise a mighty army of the sporting elite of tlie world in their prime of condition. Their combats wil tie waged, however, for the laurels of peaceful victory. The fact that the German army is responsible for the construction and maintenance of this magnificent village, that it has invited every nation to be represented in this life of genuine comradeship is proof of its desire to further harmony amongst nations. This spirit will also prevail in the Olympic village and spread from man to man and from nation to nation.