OLYMPIC GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 8, 9 July 1931, Page 18

OLYMPIC GAMES

COLOURFUL PAGEANTRY

DEFILE OF THE NATIONS

Ojig of the most pieturcsquo and impressive features of the Olympic Games, to be held in Los Angeles, California, in a little over twelve months' time, and at which New Zealand will be represented, will be the opening ceremonies on the first day, 30th July. On that'date in the great stadium, with seating accommodation for < 105,000. people, tho athletes of each nation, headed by their own.flag, will march past the reviewing stand. This colour-, ful pageant, or as it is called, the Defile of Nations, was initiated/in J. 908, when [the fifth of the modern series of Games was held in London. In 1912, at Stockholm, Sweden, another custom - was introduced, of opening the Games with religious ceremony. No reference is made to creed iv the religious ceremony. In ; a broadcast address delivered in America; Mr. William May Garland, United States representative on the International Olympic Committee, said that whatever the religious beliefs of the youthful athletes, all paid obeisance to the Great God of creative strength. Likewise, a.ll offered allegiance to one flag—the flag of Olympism—a symbol of .clean, amateur sport, consisting, of five interlaced rings of international colours on a field of pure white. The flag was displayed for the first time at the Antwerp,« Belgium, Games in; 1920, and since then its raising at the opening of the Games has become a definite part of tho ceremonies. OLYMPIC OATH. ~ ' It is regarded as a rare privilege to be present at the opening of the Games and see several thousand participants take the. following solemn vow,, popularly called the' Olympic oath:' "We swear that we will take part in the Olympic Games in. loyal competition, respecting the regulations which govern them, and are desirous of participating in them in the true spirit'of sportsmanship for the honour of our country and for the glory of sport.'" Equally impressive aro the closing ceremonies, when the youth of every country arc called upon to assemble in four years at the next Olympic city, and to "display cheerfulness and concord that the Olympiad torch may be carried through the ages for tho good of a humanity moro eager, more courageous, and more pure." "WHILE OUNS ROAKED." Somo idea of the impressive naturo of the opening ceremonies of the Olympiads is to be'gained from the following description of .the opening of the last Games at Amsterdam, in 1928, which is taken from tho American Olympic Committee's report: "While guns roared and midst a setting of unsurpassed grandeur, the ninth Olympic Games were 'officially declared open by His Highness the Prince the Netherlands. It was an inspiring sight which will long be remembered by the 40,000 spectators who filled the stadium to capacity. It is estimated that over 75,000 people were outside-the gates unable to secure admission. A group of trumpeters sounded prolonged blasts at which time the Parade of Nations started' to enter the stadium. Over 3000. athletes,, representing) 46 nations, participated in .the parade, which was led by Greece.. The athletes circled ■th'e track once, and then lined up on the infield and stood at attention. ' '.'Prince Hendrik, as the representative of the Queen, who was in Norway at the time, arose and proclaimed: 'In the namo of Her Majesty,; Queen of Holland, I dcelaro the Olympic Games of 1928, celebrating theninth Olympiad of modern times, opened.' Immediately thereafter a trumpet was heard, then the thunder of a cannon salute, and the Olympic flag'was hoisted to the central mast. This was a signaj for the freeing of about 1000 pigeons, symbolic of .carrying, tho- message to all concerned. Harry Denis, captain of the Dutch Soccer team, then advanced to the foot of the Tribune of Honour, bearing in his hand the Dutch flag and surrounded in a semi-circle by the bearers of the flags of all the other countries, and pronounced the Olympic oath, all the other athletes joining in. A choir of 1200 people then chanted the Dutch National Anthem. V . Another custom at the Games, after the final of each event, is the playing of the National Anthem of the winner's country "and . theft;hoisting of -his country's flag.' '■~'' NEW ZEALAND'S PLACE. .For the Games;of the tenth Olympiad at Los Angeles next. year,; elaborate preparation's are being made with a view to'making the festival the finest that has ever been held.-'New Zealand must and will be represented, and no doubt the measures being taken by.the New Zealand Olympic Association •will meet with support throughout New; Zealand, and thus .enable' this country to tako its- place, better represented than ever before,-in';: the', Defile ■of Nations; aiid in the various' contests comprising the,' programme. ' With its handful of representatives New Zealand has always made a brave showing in the past, but the holding of the 1932 Games in Los Angeles gives the Dominion the best chance it has ever had. Tho size of the team New Zealand will be able to pit against the representatives of the other nations.depends, of courso, on the funds available.