OLYMPIC GAMES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXV, Issue 12919, 22 July 1936, Page 7

OLYMPIC GAMES

TORCH TO BE RELAYED ACROSS EUROPE SPIRIT OF' GOLDEN AGE RECAPTURED (TT.P.A. by -Elec. .Tel. Copyright). ATHENS, July 21. Something of the spirit of the golden age of Greek culture was recaptured at dawn to-day, when coricenFated rays of the sun ignited at Olympia the torch to bo borne by relays across Europe Jo Beylin, s'gnalisin'g opening of the. Olympic Games. Twelve mafilens, attiiYd in the traditional athlete's shorts and skirt-, carried the flame, from wlvcli the first runner lighted the torch and sped to tl:0 magnificent .pentali-eon marble ktadium. He lighted the “eternal flamo” at the altar in front of. the Avoroff statue.in the presence of King ■ George of Greece. On arriving in Athens. , the torch;bearer kindled the lire at a special altar at the Acropolis, where Royal guards bore the flags of the- 52 competing nations. From there the bear,er went to Delphi, the home of the ancient oracle, and crossed the frontier at Koula. As each torch burns for only ten minutes, and the flame must not be allowed to die, a car laden with spare torches and runners accompanies each, relay runner. After traversing * As countries, the “Olympic flame” w:l! reach the Beilin stadium .for the official opening of the games on August 1.

SWIMMING SECTION JAPS PROVIDE RECO G O TIMES (U P.A. by Elec 'l’el. Copyright.V LONDON. July 2(J. Tho sports writer of Hie Daily Moil states that an ex-Olympic Giving champion at present coaching the Caiman Olympic swimmers has bee a “clocking” the Japanese during their training reports, and reveals -some astounding times which they have achieved, notably for the 200 metres breaststroke, which -vias covered m 2 min. 41 4-osce. . compared w.tli Iho Olymp'c record of 2m:n. 44 IMJsco.; tho 100 metres backstroke, ni Imin. 8 1-dsec., equalling the record; fine 'ttt.'o metres free -style, in 19min. fiusoo., and the 800 metres team -ace in R min. fiOsec., compared, with the Olympic record of Smin. 53 2-ssec. AUSTRALIAN SCULLERS. MAY BE TRAINED BY TOM SULLIVAN. (LLP.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright). (Received July 21, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, July 20. Air. Alde-rson is considering an.offer of the ex-i New Zealander, Air. Tom Sullivan, to take over the training of the scullers Rearce and Turner, to which the Australian rowing coach, Mr. Mackenzie .'has no objection. DIVERSE OCCUPATIONS. AMONG THE OLYMPIC CHAAIPIONS. Have you over thought of the many divevrso occupations Olympic champions occupy in -.private life (asks a Sydney writer) ? Take the present world’s champions. Eddie Tolan is now a lawyer; Lord Burgliley, England’s great hurdler, is just a plain member of Parliament; Dr. Patrick O’Callaghan, world’s greatest hammer thrower, is a psychiatrist; Tom Hampsom, England’s Olympic Bto metres champion, is a college professor"'at St. Alband; Paavo Nurmi is agent in Finland for the world’s greatest automobile manufacturers; Matti Jarvinen, Finland’s greatest javelin thrower and world’s champion, is a clerk in a sports goods factory ; He,ien Mayer, world’s foremost lady fencer, has just-left college; Luigi Becalli, 'great Italian long-distance runner, is a superintendent of sreet construction in liis native Malin;; James Bausch, Olympic decathlon star, is looking for a job; Virtanenj champion long-distance man, runs a clothing store. How’s that for a variety of employment of the men who delight in athletics ?