Blond God and the Olympic Torch
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BLOND GOD AND THE OLYMPIC TORCH by David M. Thurlow ive years ago I wrote an article for Track Stats F(39/2) about John MARK, the man chosen to carry the Olympic torch, his career and possible reasons as to why he was chosen ahead of our champions instead of the way the Finns picked their national hero Paavo NURMI in 1952. MARK, an international 400m runner in 1947 and 1948 Olympic Possible, died in 1991. It was a recent conversation with Sydney WOODERSON, the obvious choice, who is now in a nursing home in his 92nd year that led to more research and this: When Sydney WOODERSON, world record hold- er at 800m, 880y and formerly at the mile plus European 1500m 1938 and 5000m 1946 champion, arrived at Wembley Stadium in the brilliant sun- shine of July 29th for the Opening Ceremony of the 1948 Olympic Games he had no doubt that he was to carry the torch on the final lap in front of the enormous crowd. This was because he had been told he was the man and although he had no training for the occa- sion he was ready. So was the British public ready for him. The Times had made clear who was their choice saying on the eve of the Games that the carrying of the Sydney Wooderson (Private Archives Thurlow) torch from Olympia to Wembley had captured the public imagination and 'nearly everyone knows There is no clue in any of the pages of minutes the runner they would like to see'. of the various committees of the organisers of the It was not to be and Sydney was extremely an- Games (the small number worked incredibly hard noyed, a rare emotion for the little man, when he and efficiently and their minutes are as crisp and was told 'you are not doing it. We are not allowing curt as you will find) as to how they came to pick an individual athlete to enhance his reputation in the final runner. this way.' In the runup to the Games the name of the per- Sydney told me recently that his annoyance was son was kept secret and Commander COLLINS on over the fact that they had not told him before, not the evening before would even not tell his wife and that he was not doing it. He accepted that with his daughter, Mrs Penny ELSOM. usual self-effacing and diffident equanimity. She told me "I was only ten at the time but I do The problem is that his memory is going and remember that my father would not even tell my he cannot remember who told him that he was go- mother or myself who the final runner was to be ing to carry it and thinks it was either Commander until the day! I was at the Opening Ceremony Francis William "Bill" COLLINS organiser of the and was thrilled with everyone else there when torch relay or perhaps Lord BURGHLEY, Chairman John Mark appeared at the entrance and just of the Organising Commitee. stood holding the flame. COLLINS a retired Naval officer had taken charge 'He did look absolutely 'right' especially as the of the magnificent torch relay of 3590 men on an al- size of the stadium demanded a tall figure." ways-changing (on account of civil strife in Greece) And there she pinpoints one of the two reasons journey from Olympia to Wembley with the torch why MARK was chosen - it did need a tall man and flame going out thirty seconds after landing at Sydney (the then Queen was heard to ask when Dover when clutched in the hand of Chief Petty MARK appeared "what a pity they did not get that dear Officer Herbert BARNES. After three minutes it was little Sydney to do it") was (as they used to say) "not relit and made its way without further problems to knee high to a grasshopper" at 5'6½ and none of the London. other contenders except Don FINLAY (OG bronze and The whole operation cost of £1840. JOURNAL OF OLYMPIC HISTORY 14(AUGUST 2006)NUMBER 2 43 The last torch bearer 1948, John Mark, The specially designed torch only for the torch bearer in the Olympic Arena (I.) and the standard torch 1948 (r.) (Official Report of the Games of the XlVth Olympiad London 1948) silver 110mh 1932 and 1936) because he was silver in those days commented on this particular as- haired and older looking, fitted the requirement. pect of the choice unfavourably." The other qualification that has now been dis- She is right. There was no comment and the covered was the he must be blond, strange when the choice was explained by the officials "that he should British had been fighting for six years to stop a na- act as a symbol of British athletic youth"'. tion obsessed with the Aryan beautiful blond mas- Consider the situation: the organisers could go culine figure to the extent of mass murder to fulfil it, for one of the established Olympic champions and taking over the world with their evil beliefs. medallists or world record holders around or for On the other hand they did want someone as a someone else. symbol to represent the beauty of a young athlete Those available were Harold WHITLOCK, Godfrey at the peak of his fitness to represent the country BROWN, the imposing military figures of Godfrey rather than a champion having secretly having de- RAMPLING and Donald FINLAY, Bill ROBERTS, Freddy cided to dispense with a national hero. WOLFF, possibly Tom HAMPSON and WOODERSON. That was the situation and it was announced pub- None were contenders once you knew the or- licly in 2005 in a fine BBC Television Documentary ganisers wanted a blond Adonis because they were called "A Very British Olympics" written and direct- all dark or silver haired. Some through age and ed by Dominic SUTHERLAND. weight might have had difficulty in carrying the He had discovered this from Cdr COLLINS' ar- heavy torch. chives at Loughborough University thanks to ar- Who made the choice of a blond is lost forever chivist Jenny CLARK. because everyone concerned is dead. Mrs ELSOM said "As to the blond issue, I do But although the decision to ask John MARK was know that my father was adamant that the last not made until the 44th meeting of the executive runner should epitomize the essential British committee on June 22nd 1948 ("it was agreed that an athlete. I can well believe that he insisted on approach should be made to John Mark to seek him to act 'blond'. In '48 attitudes to race/colour were very as bearer of the torch for the final lap in the Stadium and different and I would be surprised if the media the lighting of the flame subject to him not being includ- 44 JOURNAL OF OLYMPIC HISTORY 14(AUGUST 2006)NUMBER 2 ed in the British team" - he was not, run out in the to head matches and the 1952 Olympic Games, AAA 440y heats and losing his chance) the search another 6'2 blond Adonis this time from Sheffield for the blond God had been going on for weeks. not Surrey, appointed but never mentioned in any This is clear from Cdr COLLINS' papers although minutes. there is no hint as to why MARK was finally the Commander COLLINS carried out a search for one and who thought of him - although Roger these people and records how people were nomi- BANNISTER'S quip in the tv programme that he was nated and discarded because they did not fit the President of the Cambridge University Athletic Club, physical qualification. A runner from Reading was a job once held by BURGHLEY, might have a bitter fine but dark haired. truth in it. And acknowledging another - RA KING, by the The Achilles Club had much to do with the or- secretary of the Cambridgeshire County AAA, on ganisation. If it was to be a blond it would have to May 3rd, an athlete I nor many others cannot trace be an Achilles one. - COLLINS says "as it happens I have no say in the selec- But there is plenty about what torch bearers in tion of the final runner but I am passing your letter on to general for the relay from Dover to Wembley and the Committee concerned and I am sure they will give all the final man in particular had to be. due consideration to your suggestion." The letters also show the tremendous efficiency And a week later he wrote to EJ HOLT, the organ- shown by everyone involved, a legacy from World ising secretary, that in connection with one runner War Two which ended three years before and the "I am finding out whether he is a blond" and did two immediate get-on with or you're dead philosophy days later. He was 6'1, weighed around 12 stone it inevitable brought. but unluckily "his hair is dark". In a letter to the clubs picked to provide runners In his letter to another club secretary COLLINS COLLINS said "when dealing with the clubs it would had asked "can you please tell me by return it he is fair probably be best to leave it to the club committees to se- or dark?" Dark and out. lect the athletes themselves, bearing in mind that they On July 7th EJ HOLT, the Director of Organisation, must be of good physique and to too old. I should say wrote to MARK confirming his appointment as torch 30 to 35 should be the maximum age and a bald head or carrier.