TOE OLYMPIC GAMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20473, 30 July 1928, Page 9

TOE OLYMPIC GAMES

ARMIES OF COMPETITORS. CREAM OF WORLD’S ATHLETES BRILLIANT OPENING CEREMONY. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) AMSTERDAM, July 27. The American Olympic representatives, with an expeditionary force of nearly 300 perfectly-trained athletes, sumptuously equipped, arrived in a floating hotel. There is an army of officials, highly-skilled coaches, and a galaxy of talent.—Australian Press AssociationUnited Service. THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. DR PORRITT TO COMPETE. AMSTERDAM, July 27. The New Zealander Dr Porritt will compete in the thirteenth heat of the 100 metres. Watson (Australia), assuming he is able to start in the 400 metres hurdles, will meet the Britisher Livingstone-Learmouth and the Frenchman Vail. Heavy showers to-day should greatly improve the track for Sunday. Carlton (Australian sprinter) is resting. He is confident of being fit on the day of the race.—Australian Press Association. A SPECTACULAR OPENING. ATHLETES TO TAKE OATH. LONDON, July 28. (Received-July 29, at 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam is a virtual Tower of Babel, 47 nations being represented by approximately 5000 athletes, and the ninth Olympiad is the biggest in the history of the games. Curiously enough, the tremendous influx of the cream of the world’s athletes and the legion of tongues has not caused the placid Dutchmen to take more than a passing interest, and the whole of the excitement is confined to foreigners. Even an excellent chance of a free view of the training ef sportsmen known the world over fails to attract the Dutchman in the street any more than a cycling messenger boy. It is a fqct that if he cares a jot about the Olympiad he stolidly hides his interest behind the daily routine of cigars and lager. As a business proposition the games are another matter, for the Ncthcrlanders arc reaping a rich harvest. The opening will be spectacular. Prince Hendrick will drive to the Stadium in the State coach, and will watch a spectacular parade of nations, each competitor w'earing his national colours. As each team finishes the circuit it will form up in column facing the stand of honour, and thereupon the Prince will declare the games open. Immediately there will be a fanfare of trumpets and a salute of guns. The Olympic flag will be hoisted, and. 50 pigeons will be simultaneously Released, each with its neck beribboned with the colours of one of the competing nations. Thereafter the ceremony of administering the oath to an > thlete will b,. held. One nominated by Holland will advance to the front of the stand bearing the flag of his country, and, surrounded by all the other standard-bearers, he will pronounce the oath, whereupon each will subscribe by lifting the right arm. The oath reads: —“ We swear to present ourselves at the Olympiad as fair competitors, respecting the rules governing the games, being desirous of participating therein in a chivalrous spirit for the honour of our country and sport.—Australian Press Association. A REGRETTABLE INCIDENT. FRENCH COMPETITORS ANNOYED. TROUBLE WITH GATEKEEPER. AMSTERDAM, July 28. (Received July 29, at 5.5 p.m.) Relentless all night rain, after several weeks of delightful sunshine, again gave place to perfect weather in the nick of time to ensure a successful opening of the Clympiad. The Prince Consort, in the name of Queen Wilhelmina, performed the opening in the presence of a brilliant suite. The sun was shining gloriously as he took the salute amid the strains of the Dutch national anthem. Tumultuous cheers followed, then the majestic parade of athletes began, the flower of the world’s manhood and womanhood filing past the royal box and taking up their positions. Greece, by virtue of inaugurating the Olympiad, headed the procession, and thereafter the other nations followed in alphabetical order. Owing to a regrettable misunderstand ing with a gatekeeper, the french competitors did not participate in the parade. A sensation was thereby created, and it deepened when it was rumoured that they were so incensed that they might refuse to participate in the games. It was ascertained that when they went to the Stadium yesterday with authority to view the grounds, the gatekeeper refused them admittance. An argument followed, culminating in Paul Mericamp, the secretary of the General French Olympic Federation, being stuck in the face, and the team withdrew. The Dutch Olympic Committee, on learning of the occurrence, apologised, and the incident was regarded as closed, especially as the team was informed that the gatekeeper would be dismissed. When the team arrived to-day, the same gatekeeper was on duty, and the team promptly departed, and it is understood that it will decline to participate in the games. It is understood that the Frenchmen’s pique was intensified because the Germans and Finns were allowed to train on the Olympic track, to which the French were not admitted. The French competitors, owing to their absence from the opening ceremony, did not take the oath to which the other teams subscribed, and their participation in the games is more doubtful than ever. The teams, each one behind its flag, took their positions facing the royal box, and the international and executive committees formed a semi-circle before the grand stand. Every word was audible as the president (Dr Devisser) and the president of the executive (Baron Schimmelpennink) and Mr Van Der Oye spoke. When inviting the Prince Consort to proclaim the games open, Dr Devisser expressed pride in the fact that, despite the Government’s refusal to support the Olympiad financially, private sympathy had been unprecedentedly awakened. He paid a tribute to the beauty of the revival of the ancient games, and added that unimpeachable honesty and good faith would rule the contests. Every competitor would have the conviction that the winner would achieve personal and national honour only when victory was secured with shining weapon and clean hands. Let the flame of deep religious passion kindle the competitors’ souls, since this alone could maintain the high tradition and realise the sublime ideal of the Olympic games. Baron Schimmelpennink referred to the growing feeling that man’s mental and physical development should go hand in hand in order to achieve the harmonious whole. These contests would greatly realise that ideal. The committee welcomed all the athletes and wished them an honourable contest. He requested Prince Hendrik, of the Netherlands, to open the games.—Australian Press Association —United Service.

ffwmw FJMWASTRT. PROCESSION OF COMPETITORS. THE STADIUM PACKED. AMSTERDAM, July 29. (Received July 29, at 5.5 p.m.) The ninth Olympiad opened brilliantly, the pageantry strikingly illustrating the world-wide growth of sport. The packed Stadium applauded the hour-long procession of the world’s athletic armies, from the solitary representative of Panama, whose standard was borne by a Boy Scout, to the battalions of Holland, America, and Germany, while the appearance of every division of the British Empire was warmly cheered. The only drawback was France’s regrettable absence and the dull skies after a fortnight’s ideal weather. From the moment the Greek flag signalised the entry of a body of extremely up-to-date young men as upholders of the centuries old sporting tradition till the last Netherlander proudly saluted the Prince, the 40,000 spectators received a lesson not only in the universatility of sport, but in geography. Lesser known European countries who names are involuntarily associated in the Eng-lish-speaking mind with musical comedy plots sent a surprisingly strong representation of upstanding men and women. The massed effect of the flags and uniforms of 43 nations in the centre of the arena provided a memorable spectacle. Surely • there is no greater tribute to the penetrating effects of sport than the extent to which the Eastern countries have embraced Western customs and costumes in an endeavour to establish themselves on an equal footing with the rest of the world. For instance, the Turks paraded in smart cricket caps and blazers, while officials with silk hats and morning coats headed Japan’s group of equally modern attired competitors. FRENCH INCIDENT CLEARED UP. " PARIS, July 29. (Received July 29, at 5.5 p.m.) The French Olympic incident has been cleared up, and France will participate in the games. —Australian Press Association. DRAW FOR OPENING EVENTS. AMSTERDAM, July 27. (Received July 28, at 5.5 p.m.) The cyclists’ test race was not held owing to the wet track. It will be held next week. The athletes spent an easy day in view of Sunday’s races, in the draw for which they have had mixed luck. Carlton, in the eleventh heat of the 100 metres, is opposed by five unknown runners, but Australia’s 800 metres runners have each drawn particularly hot opposition. Whyte, in the second heat, will meet the world’s record holder, Peltzer, while Stewart, in the fifth heat, will oppose the American Hahn and the German Englehardt. Many expect the 800 metres to provide the greatest race of the games. The first two in each heat of the 100 metres will qualify for the semi-finals and the first three in the 800 metres. — Australian Press Association. AMSTERDAM A BLAZE OF COLOUR. FLAGS AND ILLUMINATIONS. AMSTERDAM. July 27. (Received July 28, at 5.5 p.m.) In preparation for the eve of the opening of the Olympic Games with a march past of 2000 world’s’ champions in many fields of sport, Amsterdam is a blaze of colour, and the flags of all the competing nations are flying above the quaint old time squares or hanging from the windows of ancient towering buildings. The narrow streets and avenues are brilliant with bunting everywhere, and the Olympic flag of blue, white, and orange has a space of honour. Many of the 347 bridges spanning the canals are decorated with evergreens and flagpoles are flaunting the Olympic colours, while avenues of lime trees bordering the canals are festooned with electric lights in preparation for great illuminations. —United Service.