OLYMPIC GAMES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 182, 4 July 1931, Page 16 (Supplement)

OLYMPIC GAMES

COLOURFUL pageantry.

OPENING CEREMONIES

DEFILE OF THE NATIONS

One of the most picturesque and Imnressive features ot the Olympic +o be held in Los Angeles. Games, to be ne CaWoin . an( j at w hich New Zea- ?” 0 !l th «.-ill be ’represented, will be the Smg cifeSe, on th. fet <1,,. Tulv 30 On that date, in the great stadium’, with seating accommodation for 105,000 people, the athletes of each nation headed by their own flag will march past the stand. 1 colourful pageant, or as it is called the'‘‘Defile of Nations,” was initiated in 1908, when the fifth of the modem series of Games was held in London. Tn 1912 at Stockholm, Sweden, an other custom was introduced, of opening the Games with religious ceremony. OBEISANCE TO A GREAT GOD. No reference is made to creed in the religious ceremony. In a broadcast address delivered m America Mr William Mav Garland, L_nited State' representative on the . Internationa! Olympic Committee, said that whatever the religious beliefs of the youthful athletes, all paid obeisance to the Great God of creative strength. Likewise, all offered allegiance to one flag 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 the ceremonies.

THE OLMYPIC OATH. It is regarded as a rare privilege to be present *t the opening of the Games and see several thousand participants take the following solemn vow, popularly called the Olympic oatli: “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 are the closing ceremonies, when the youth of every country are 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 tl e good of a humanity more eager, more courageous, and more pure.” “WHILE GUNS ROARED.” Some idea of the impressive nature 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 the American Olympic Committee’s report:—“While guns roared and midst a setting of unsurpassed grandeur. the IXth. Olympic Games were officially declarer! open by His Highness, the Prince of 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 the 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 tile time, arose and proclaimed : —‘ln the name of Her Majestv. Queen of Holland. I declare the Olymnjc Games of 1928. celebrating the IXtli 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 signal for the freemg of about 1000 pigeons, symbolic of carrying the message to all concerned. Harry Denis, captain of the Dutch s ® cc ® r team, then advanced to the foot of the Tribune of Honour hearing in h' s hand the Dutch flag, and surrounded in a semi-circle bv the bearers of nags of all the other countries, and pronounced the Olvmpic oath, all the other athletes joining in. A choir of 1200 people then chanted the Dutch National Anthem.”

-Smother custom at the Games, after tip final of each event, is the playing of the national anthem of the winner s country and the hoisting of his country’s flag. NEW ZEALAND’S PLACE. For the Games of the Xth Olympiad, at Los Angeles next year, elaborate preparations are being made with a view to making the festival the finest that lias ever been held. New Zealand must ajid will he 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 take its place, better represented than ever before, in the Defile of Nations and in the various contests oomnrising the programme. With its handful of representatives New Zealand has always niade a brave showing in the past, hut the holding of the 1932 Games in Los Angeles gives the Dominion the best chance it has ever had.