ELEVENTH OLYMPIAD

Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 August 1936, Page 9

ELEVENTH OLYMPIAD

OPENING CEREMONY

STRIVING FOR AMITY

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— CopyrlEht. (Received August 1, 11.40 a.m.) BERLIN, July 31. ' The representative of the Australian Associated Press agency reports that four years of preparations for the greatest event in the world's athletic history will reach their climax when the last runner bearing the torch from Olympia reaches Berlin at 12.30 tomorrow in readiness for lighting the Olympic fire, which will burn throughout the Games. The German Fuhrer, Herr Hitler, will arrive at the stadium at 4 p.m., and the Olympic bell will thereupon call the youth -of the world. This will be followed by the procession of teams, an address by the president of the organising committee, Herr Hitler's opening address, the hoisting of the Olympic flag, the releasing of 120,000 homing pigeons, a salute by artillery, the singing of the Olympic hymn, the arrival of the torch relay runner, the lighting of the Olympic fire, and the taking of the Olympic oath by a German competitor on behalf of all the athletes. . The teams will afterwards march out. Saturday's programme will be exclusively ceremonial, the competitive events commencing ; at 10.30 a.m. on Sunday. Thus the stage is set for what should be an impressive show even for a land to which ceremony and display have constituted the breath of life for the past three years. It is certain that nothing Germany can do to prevent discord at the Olympic Games will not-be done. What will happen afterwards is a subject too profound for discussion in this heady air. The manager of the New Zealand Olympic team, Dr. A. E. Porritt, will attend Herr Hitler's lunch tomorrow in honour- of members of the International Olympic Federation, who will precede Herr Hitler in the procession to the stadium.