OLYMPIC GAMES CONCLUDE: FINAL CEREMONY

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 August 1948, Page 8

OLYMPIC GAMES CONCLUDE: FINAL CEREMONY

LONDON, August 14.

The fourteenth Olympic Games ended with an impressive final ceremony at the Wembley Stadium, London, tonight. The symbolic flame was dojised, the banner of five linked circles lowered, trumpets sounded fanfares, and a choir sang the Olympic Hymn. The ceremony began with a parade of the flags of the 58 participating nations. The standard bearers gathered round the Duke of Edinburgh, representing His Majesty the King, and other members of the British Royal Family, Cabinet Ministers and leading sports personalities from all over the world. Massed bands played the Greek, British, and Finnish National Anthems as the flags of Greece, Britain, and Finland were hoisted. (Finland is the next host country.) Carter’s Bad "Luck

The bad luck which seemed to dog the New Zealand Olympic team continued yesterday when T. R. Carter was obliged to retire from the 121-mile road race at Windsor Great Park. Only five miles after the start he had a puncture in his front tyre which put him about five minutes behind the field. In the second lap he had two more punctures in both the back and front tyres. As a result he was lapped by the leaders half-way through the fourth lap, and was ordered by the umpires to retire. Carter’s luck was shared by many, others and more than half the field had to retire.

Carter will go to Amsterdam to ride in the 220 kilometres world road championship on August 27. He will be accompanied by Allen Stonex, of Auckland, who will ride in the world championship .1000 metres sprint. First Places In Games

First places gained at the Olympic Games up to Friday night were as follows: — United States 38, Sweden 17, France and Hungary 9 each, Italy 8, Turkey 6, Holland, Denmark, and Czechoslovakia 5 each, Finland 4, Britain and Argentine 3 each, Australia, Belgium, Egypt, and Finland 2 each, Austria, India, Jamaica, Norway, Peru, and Switzerland 1 each. First places in the athletics and swimming 'were:— Athletics—United States 12, Sweden 5, Holland 4, France and Hungary 2 each, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Italy,’ and Jamaica 1 each. Swimming. — United States 12, Denmark 2, Holland, Italy (water polo) 1 each.