OLYMPIC GAMES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20231, 15 February 1934, Page 11

OLYMPIC GAMES.

Careful Preparations Being Made in Germany.

Preparation's have started throughout the world for the Olympic Games to be held at Berlin in 1936. Reports received by the Organising Committee indicate that the interest in these Games is even more widespread than it was for those of 1932. In Germany itself all authorities concerned are making careful preparations to ensure that the strongest possible teams shall be placed in the field. Chancellor Hitler has now approved the plans for the reconstruction of the Berlin Stadium and surrounding area, which will be converted into the most extensive sports park in the world. The first big rehearsal for the Olympic Games will be staged in London next August, almost simultaneously with the German athletic championships. These will be the Empire Games and will probably be held at the White City Stadium, where the Olympic Games of 1908 took place. Here representatives of the Mother Country and her many far-flung Dominions will meet to test their strength. These Empire Games have only been held once previously, in 1930, at Ottawa in Canada. Subsequent discussions at Los Angeles led to the establishment of the British Empire Games Federation, whose president is that well-known sportsman, the Earl of Derby, K.G., G.C.8., G.C.Y.O. The chairman is Sir James Leigh-Wood, K.8.E., C. 8., C.M.G., while the secretary is Mr Evan A Hunter, 0.8. E., who is also secretary to the British Olympic Association. Japan has a special interest in the XI. Olympic Games, as it is hoped that the XII. Olympic Games will be allotted to Tokio. In that event they will be linked up with the bi-millenary of the Japanese Empire in 1940.