OLYMPIC GAMES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 139, 15 June 1931, Page 10

OLYMPIC GAMES

COLOURFUL PAGEANTRY OPENING CEREMONIES. DEFILE OF THE NATIONS. One of the most picturesque and impressive features of tho Olympic Games, to be held in Los Angeles, California, in a little over twelve months time and at which New Zealand will in; represented, will bo the opening ceremonies on the first day, July 30. Un that date in tho great stadium, with seating accommodation for 105,000 people, tho athletes of each nation headed by their owi. flag will march past the reviewing Stand. This colourful pageant, or, as it is called, the Defile of Nations, was initiated in .1908, when the fifth of the modern series of i games was held in London. In 1912, at ►Stockholm, bweden, another custom was introduced, of opening the games with religious ceremony. No reference is made to creed in the religious ceremony. In a broadcast address delivered in America, Air William May Garland, United .States representative on the International 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 Hag—the flag of 1 Olympism—a symbol of 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 ol the games has become a definite pan of the ceremonies. The Olympic Oath. It is regarded as a rare privilege to be present at the opening or the games and. gee several thousand participants take the following solemn vow, popularly called the Olympic oath:— ‘‘•We swear that we will take part in the Olympic Games in loyal competition, respecting the regulation.'- which govern them and are desirous of participating in them in the true spirit »f 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 arc called upon to assemble in four years at the next Olympic city and. to ‘ ‘ display cheerfulness ami concord that the Olympiad torch may be carried through the ages for the good of a humanity more eager, more courageous, and more pure.” • borne 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 tho American Olympic Committee’s report;— “While guns roared and midst a setting of unsurpassed grandeur, the IXth. Olympic Games were otiicially declared open by His Highness the Prince of the Netherlands, ft’ was an inspiring sight which will long be remembered by the 49,000 specta tors who filled tne 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 4G 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 tho representative of the Queen, who was in Norway at the time, arose and proclaimed: ‘ln the name of iler ALajesty, Queen of Holland, 1 declare the Olympic Games of 1928, celebrating the IXth. Olympiad of modern times, opened.' Immediately thereafter a trumpet was heard, then the thunder of a cannon salute aud the Olympic flag was hoisted to the central mast. This was a signal for the freeing of about 1000 pigeons, symbolic of carrying the message to all concerned. Harry Denis, captain of the Dutch Soccer team then advanced to the foot of the Tribune of Honour bearing in his hand “the Dutch flag and surrounded in a semi-circle by the bearers of uhe flags of all the other countries and pronounced the Olympic oath all the other athletes joining in. A choir of 1290 people then chanted the Dutch national anthem.” Another custom at the games, after the 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 has ever been held. New Zealand must and will be 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 ami in the various contests comprising the programme. With its handful of representatives New Zealand has always made a brave showing in the past, but the holding o f 1932 games in Lo.s Angeles gives the Dominion the best chance it has ever had Ihc size of the team New Zealand wil. be able to pit against the representatives of the other nations depends, of course, on the funds available. The P.ig Windfall Art Union has been adopted by the Olympic Association as a means of collecting the money. s 0 that New Zealand sportsmen in giving their support not only will be assisting in the raising of the necessary finance to send the team away, but will stand a chance of gaining a “windfall.”