OLYMPIC VILLAGE ARISES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20065, 23 March 1935, Page 16

OLYMPIC VILLAGE ARISES

GERMANY’S PREPARATIONS An Elaborate Scheme Provision for the competitors constitutes an essential part of the preparations for the Olympic Games. The great advantages of an Olympic Village, made plain at Los Angeles in 1932, imposed on Germany the duty of offering similar hospitality to the Olympic competitors from throughout the world in 1936. As its contribution to the success of the Olympic Games, the Defence Force of the German Reich expressed its willingness to take over the construction and administration of the Olympic Village. This sport-inspired intervention of the military provides the guarantee that Germany’s guests will find exemplary residential quarters, conforming to all wishes. The construction of the Olympic Village has commenced at Doeberitz, which is reached by a straight prolongation of the great traffic artery running from Unter den Linden through the Tiergarten and Charlottenburg to the Reich Sport Field, from which the village itself is less than nine miles distant. The land is undulating and richly wooded, a beautiful example of the landscape attractions of the Mark Bradenburg. The 3,000 competitors who may be expected to take part in the Games will find there a home and training quarters. The Organising Committee will provide separate accommodation for the lady competitors on the Reich Sport Field. The invitations to dwell in the Olympic Village have found joyous acceptance throughout the world. The experiences of Los Angeles were at the disposal of the German organisers for the construction of the village. Naturally certain adaptations had to be made to fit in with the German conditions, since a larger number of competitors must be anticipated at the Berlin Games, the climate also differs, and the village itself has limits to its area. Herr Werner March, former Government Architect, has been entrusted by the Reichswehr Ministry with the task of planning and carrying through the constructions. With him are asosciated the architects Herr Walter March, Dr Steinmetz, and Professor WiebkingJuergensmann. The reception buildings will stand at the entrance to the Olympic Village; the main avenue broadens out at the entrance, which is situated directly on the road from Berlin to Hamburg. The reception buildings contain all the accommodation required for the personal and organising needs of the guests, such as reception rooms, offices for the managers of the teams, a Hall of the Nations, cash office, travel bureau, bank, post office, shops, etc. There will also be a restaurant for visitors who, as at Los Angeles, in the interests of the athletes will not be permitted to enter the village. The “dwelling houses,” which in a wide circle constitute the village, start close to the entrance. They are onestoried stone buildings, each with ten to twelve rooms, with washing and shower equipment, each room 3m by 4m, having two beds. In the

north stand the great restaurant buildings, with forty kitchens and dininghalls, with all accommodation for the kitchen administrations, washing requidements supply of provisions, the staffs, the firemen, garages, etc. Several bath-houses with hairdressers’ salons are distributed throughout the village. For training there is to be a field with a track of the exact Olympic length; and a community house containing a gymnasium; a large bathing pool will lend added beauty to the scene. The “Thingplatz”—assembly ground—stands in the middle of the village, towered over by magnificent birch trees. Thus care is already being taken to make the stay of the residents of this village as pleasant as possible. The North German Lloyd Line, with its wealth of international experience, takes over the general management. The charge will be 6 marks daily per guest, including food, linen, and use of motor buses. In addition to the stewards who will see to the bodily comforts of the guests, each nation will have a special “guard of honour,” consisting of youthful sport enthusiasts who are now busily engaged in learning foreign languages.