MELBOURNE HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR THE 1956 OLYMPIC GAMES

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 April 1949, Page 5

MELBOURNE HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR THE 1956 OLYMPIC GAMES

MELBOURNE. April 29 (Rec, 8.25 p m.) —Flags flew on the Town Hall today when the news came that Melbourne had been selected for the 1956 Olympic Games. At a meeting of the Olympic Invitation Committee the acting Lord Mayor (Sir Harold Gengoult) lit a replica of the Olympic Torch. The general opiqjon is that the Games will be the biggest thing in Melbourne history, bringing 100,000 visitors who will spend £5,000,000 but. there is a great deal of organisation needed, particularly in providing accommodation for visitors. Final plans provide for the erection of an Olympic Stadium of 950 by 700 feet, seating 70,000, swimming and diving stadiums holding 10,000 to 12,000, and facilities for housing 4000 athletes at the Melbourne showgrounds, which are only 35 miles from both the city and the airport. Transport sources will have to handle 200,000 people a day. Many hotel rebuilding plans which have been held in abeyance are now expected to proceed. Announcing the showgrounds plan, the president of the Royal Agricultural Society, Mr. C. M. McKay, said that the actual arena would be 5135 feet by 250 feet, ana would be surrounded by a cinder track of two furlongs. A straight run of 120 metres and a circular 440 yards track, with a 125 feet radius at each end, would be provided.