FOR OLYMPIA

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1936, Page 5

FOR OLYMPIA

THE LIGHTED TORCH (United Press Associating—*4y Elect*! Telegraph—Copyright) ATHENS, July 20. Something of the spirit of the golden age of Greek culture was recaptured at dawn to-day, when concentrated sun's rays ignited at Olympia, the torch to he borne by relays across Europe to Berlin, signalising the opening of the Olympic Games. Twelve maidens, attired in the traditional athletes’ short skirts carried the flae from which the first runner ignited the torch and sped to the magnificent pentelicon marble .stadium H e lighted the eternal flame, at the altar in front of the Averoff statue, iii the presence of Ivifi’g" George Arriving at Athens,the torchhearer kindled a fire at‘the special altar at Acropolis where Royal the flags of fifty-d>wo!'icomp6ting’ Rations. From there the bearer went to Delphi, the hoine of the Ancient Oracle, and crossed the frontier at Ivovila. As each torch burns only for ten minutes, and the flame must not he allowed"to die, a car laden with spare torches) and runners accompanies each relay runner. After traversing six countries, the Olympic flame will reach Berlin for th e official opening of the. Games on August 1. JAPANESE SWIMMERS ' LONDON, July 20. The “Daily Mail’s” sports gossip writer, states that a n ex-Olympic diving champion, who is at present coaching the German Olympic swimmers, has been “clocking” the Japanese during their training, anti reports some astounding times. They achieved notably, the 200 metres’ •breastroke in 161.2 seconds, compared with the Olympic record of 161.0; the hundred metres back-stroke in 63.2, equalling the record, the 1500 metres free style in nineteen minutes thirty seconds, and the 800 metres team race in 530 seconds, compared with the. Olympic record of 538.4 seconds.