“HOST TO THE WORLD”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 19 June 1931, Page 8

“HOST TO THE WORLD”

LOS ANGELES GAMES PLAYGROUND OF NATIONS A WONDERFUL STAGE For many monlhs now Los Angeles in sunny California lias been preparing for (lie ((‘ill h Olympiad lo be held in (he Pacific Coast city from 301 It July to Lilli August, 1932. There, in I lull period of just over a fori night, represelllalives of I lie mil inns of the world will lie al play and Los Angeles in characteristic American fashion has plans well ahead for a lavish reception to the world.

In point, of fact Los Angeles has been preparing for these Games not for moiifhs, lint, really for several years and if necessary, with the facilities (lull had already been provided, could have singed I lie Olympiad six months after the meeting of the Inlernal ional Olympic Comte in Berlin, Germany, lasi May. II "ill Urns he seen that preparalions for Hie 1932 Games will he no rush job.

ON THE SHORES OE THE PACIFIC It. was in 1920. when I lie Games were being held in Antwerp, Belgium, that an invitation to stage the next Olympiad in California was made to the Inlcrnatioual Olympic Comte hv Mr William ’May Garland, United Stales represent a I i ve, on helm If of California’s governmental,. athletic and civic bodies. But the 1924 and 1928 Games had already been awarded to Paris and Amsterdam respectively, and (lie International Olympic Com te replied Unit the next available year was 1932, for which several countries for some time had been bidding.Jn 1923 at the meeting of the ’lnternational Comte in Rome, the United Slates was selected as the nation to which would he given the Gaines of the'tenth Olympiad. Mr Garland thereupon suggested that a city on the shores of the Pacific be selected, as never in the history of Olympism had this great international event been held near these waters. He moved that Los Angeles he selected, and the recommendation met with unanimous approval. Having been chosen to play-host to the world, as it were, Los Angeles, with a full realisation of its trust, has lost little time in preparing the stage. Considerable sums of money were made available. The Stale of California, voted 1,0110,000 dollars, and Los Angeles 1,2.10,000 dollars more. In the same year as the Games were awarded to Los Angeles a great Coliseum was built, and in this great stadium, which lias been improved Knd enlarged, will be held the athletic events (track and field), gymnastics, horse-jumping events, field . hockey, opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, and the finish of the marathon and road cycling races.

HUGE STADIUM The plans for the improvements to tlie Coliseum, which will lie known as Olympic Stadium during the Games, provided for the increasing ol the smiting capacity from 7:1,(100 to 10.1,000 niiiiihered seats; tin* construction of a promenade entirely around the stadium; the installation of olliees for rotates, ollieials and juries: and the. construction of adequate laeilitics for Press representatives and the sports technical department. All facilities lor the events to he held ill the stadium are expected to be completed a. year before, the opening ceremonies. The. track is being improved and will be well seasoned before the opening date. Since 1923 many outstanding athletic events have, been held in the stadium and in these contests many of the world’s leading athletes have participated. It, is situated in Olympic Park with the Fine Arts Museum, swimming stadium, and the fencing pavilion. Olympic Park is near the centre of the business district of Los Angeles and is accessible from all parts ol the city.

“OLYMPIC VILLAGE" The improvements to the Coliseum is only one of the big tasks that have been undertaken. One of the biggest problems facing the organising comto was where and how to house the different, teams that will he competing al (he, Games. This dillieulty was solved by a decision to build an “Olympic Village,” upon •the construction of which work has been started. The village is to consist of large-si/,e bunga--uaa is ‘spiaiii.tAo.idm! u.mpom qipw ka\o[ trill dining-hall, a central lounge, and an information bureau. The rowing events are to he decided at Long Beach, which is about an hour distant from the stadium, and here a channel is to he dredged to accommodate four to eight racing shells over the full Olympic course of 2900 meters, about ii mile and a quarter. There will he accommodation along tile sloping banks of this course for 100,000, and a, reviewing stand at the finish will seat 10,000.

bit; swnuiuixfi pool The plans for tin: swimming stadium were. drawn in accordance with the Olympic requirements, and recent udvice from New York wan that a start was to lie made immediately with its construction. The pool itself will he 1,0 meters (I(i4ft) in length, 20 meters ((>,"> ft.) in width, and will vary in depth from 1.5 meters (‘III; 11 in) to 5 meters (lllft bin). The equipment will consist of a regulation iiiturnational divine- tower, with both wood and steel divine hoards. The* water to |„. used will he from the fresh wafer supply of the city, and modern fdfra,j„„ and purification equipment will be installed. The grandstands will have seating capacity of 10,000 people, and un'iple dT'essing rooms, lounges, olliecs, other facilities will he provided, or reinforced concrete construction, the stadium is to remain after the Carnes lor permanent usage. The Olympic auditorium, only a short distance from the main stadium, v ill he the scene of the boxing, wresti;'„„, jmd weight lifting contests. Splendi,," facilities are ot’ered lor (he yacht- ~ ltiieiTY Stored Op"for busy day with Imt breakfast of lied Diamond °

jug events, and with the Rose Howl in Pasadena, also a splendid group of polo fields a wonderful stage" will be provided.

AN AFFAIR OF AMERICA Not only Los Angeles hut tin; whole of America is behind the Cantos of the tenth Olympiad. They are being regarded in (In l light of an affair of the I ailed States, and if, is the desire of (lie American Olympic Comte that the Onnies should lie the greatest ever held. At past Olympiads New Zealand has been represented by a select few, but plans are under way in Ihe Dominion to ensure that full advantage is taken of Ihe Hi pport unity the next Caines present of this country making a belter showing both in point of numerical strength and performance. The selection ol l.os Angeles as the playground ol the nations lias brought, the Caines ni'iiicr to New Zealand than they have ever been before. There is also another advantage—l lie climatic conditions of sunny Cnlilornia. Finance has always been the big handicap in the past., tint it is Imped that on (his occasion a worthy response will be made by the public to the appeal for funds at present being made by way of the Big Windfall Art Unipn.