XV OLYMPIAD HELSINKI 1952 THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE GAMES OF THE XV OLYMPIAD HELSINKI 1952 WERNER SÖDERSTRÖM OSAKEYHTIÖ PORVOO * HELSINKI MANUSCRIPT BY THE EDITOR Mr SULO KOLKKA TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY Mr ALEX. MATSON PICTURE EDITOR Mr AUKUSTI TUHKA PHOTOS BY OLYMPIAKUVA, THE OLYMPIC PHOTO POOL AND DEUTSCHE PRESSE AGENTUR GMBH (DPA) Germany BLOCKS BY KUVATEOLLISUUS OY, HELSINKI SUPERVISED BY Mr PAULI JALASSOLA PUBLISHED BY THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE XV OLYMPIAD HELSINKI 1952 PRINTED BY WERNER SÖDERSTRÖM OSAKEYHTIÖ PORVOO, FINLAND 1955 SUPERVISED BY Mr ARVO O. LEHTINEN EDITOR'S PREFACE The Olympic Protocol requires organisers of Olympic Games to publish as early as possible a printed report of the course of the Games. More than two and a half years, however, were needed after the Closing Ceremony of the XV Olympiad Helsinki 1952 for the completion of the present report. The main reason for this delay is that the sifting and condensing of an extremely heavy mass of material was entrusted to a single individual. Responsible for the contents of the report is the Organising Committee, whose representatives have examined the ms and given it their final approval. In the collection of material the Editor has been assisted by Risto Laakasuo, M.A., Sakari Lahtinen, M.A. and Miss Anna-Maija Helminen, all of whom were employed in the Games machinery already during the stage of preparations. For material amendments to the text the Editor is indebted to Major General Yrjö Valkama, Sports Director in the Games, and to Mr. Eero Petäjäniemi, Director of the Press and Public Relations Division. The English translation is by Alex. Matson. The editing of the illustrations is the work of the artist Aukusti Tuhka. In the proofreading, which in a work of this kind involves constant checking, and in seeing the work through the press Mr. Sakari Lahtinen and Mr. Pellervo Kääpä have untiringly assisted. For expert advice on the chapters devoted to the different sports the Editor is indebted to Messrs: Olavi Varoma, shooting; Juhani Salmenkylä, basketball; Ape Janhunen, canoeing; Matti Koskenmies, modern pentathlon; Veikko Sillantaka, boxing; Väinö Eskola, yachting; Eino Nevalainen and Björn Strandell, equestrian; Björn Erik Björnström, rowing. To all of the above the Editor's grateful acknowledgements are due. In conclusion the Editor thanks the Organising Committee for the XV Olym- piad Helsinki 1952 for the generous confidence shown him. Helsinki, February 19th 1955 5 CONTENTS EDITOR'S PREFACE . 5 EKEKHEIRIA 10 THE TASK COMPLETED . 13 INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE 16 INTERNATIONAL SPORTING FEDERATIONS . 17 XV OLYMPIA HELSINKI 1952, ORGANISING COMMITTEE . 19 PREPARATIONS FOR THE 1940 OLYMPIC GAMES . 22 ORGANISING OF THE GAMES 24 SPORTS DIVISION . 27 Events and Demonstrations . 28 Preparations for the Opening Ceremony 31 Invitations to the Games 32 Sports Handbooks 34 Entry Forms and Booklets of Instructions 36 Numbering of Competitors 38 Scorecards and Forms . 39 Programmes 49 Arenas . 42 Judges and Sports Officials . 64 Order in the Arenas . 65 Announcement of Results 67 Time-keeping and Photo-Finish 71 Equipment . 74 Victory Ceremonies 77 Training Sites and Equipment 78 Flags 82 Olympic Villages 84 Preparations for the Torch Relay . 103 Music and Executants 106 Art Exhibition 110 Medals, Diplomas and Badges 111 PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION 115 Information Service before the Games 116 The Press at the Games 119 Photo 126 Film 128 Radio 131 Telecommunications 136 Local Telephone Arrangements 143 Temporary Arena Communications . 144 6 CENTRAL BUREAU 148 Olympic Youth 150 Personnel from the Defence Establishment 151 Olympic Attaches 153 Identity Cards 155 Guests of Honour and Invited Persons 158 Tickets 164 GENERAL PURPOSES DIVISION . 173 Supply and Sales 174 Housing and Catering for the Public 175 Traffic 179 Medical Service . 188 I.O.C. MEETING IN HELSINKI 194 CROSS AND MEDAL OF MERIT . 195 FINANCIAL ASPECT OF THE XV OLYMPIC GAMES . 197 THE OLYMPIC PROGRAMME AND ITS EXECUTION . 200 EVENTS OF THE GAMES 203 TORCH RELAY 205 OPENING CEREMONY 220 THE COMPETITIONS 243 Athletics . 247 Wrestling 346 Weightlifting 382 Boxing . 396 Gymnastics . 420 Shooting 454 Fencing 471 Modern Pentathlon . 505 Equestrian . 514 Cycling 540 Swimming 558 Rowing 606 Canoeing . 624 Yachting . 638 Football 656 Basketball 672 Hockey 690 DEMONSTRATIONS . 697 THE CLOSING CEREMONY 699 PARTICIPANTS IN THE ART EXHIBITION AND THEIR WORKS . 704 INDEX-OF COMPETITORS 713 LIST OF ADVISORY EXPERT COMMITTEES . 758 DONATIONS 759 7 J. K. PAASIKIVI PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, PATRON OF THE GAMES EKEKHEIRIA THE FINNISH CAPITAL, HOST IN 1952 TO THE XV OLYMPIC GAMES, RECOGNI- ZES THAT ITS NOBLE TASK AND PRECIOUS RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ACT IN THE SPIRIT WHICH IN ANCIENT TIMES IN THE LITTLE VILLAGE OF OLYMPIA RAISED THE ATHLETIC GAMES OF THE ANTIQUE WORLD TO THE STATUS OF A GREAT AND HOLY FESTIVAL THIS SPIRIT LED THE YOUTH OF HELLAS TO SEE IN THE UNADORNED SYM- BOL OF VICTORY, AN OLIVE BRANCH, A MORE HONOURABLE GOAL FOR AMBITION THAN ANY PERSONAL ADVANTAGE. MILLENIUMS HAVE ELAPSED, BUT THAT SPIRIT STILL LIVES AND CONTINUES TO INSPIRE THE YOUTH OF THE WHOLE WORLD TO CONTEND FOR TOKENS OF PEACEABLE VICTORY AND ATHLETIC HONOUR UNKNOWN TO THE CONSECRATED OLYMPIC FLAME WERE SUCH CONCEP- TIONS AS »ENEMY», »WAR» AND »LETHAL WEAPON». FOR BEFORE IT WAS ALLOWED TO FLARE UP ON THE ALTAR A TRUCE OF GOD, EKEKHEIRIA, WAS PRO- CLAIMED IN GREECE. AND THIS TRUCE WAS SCRUPULOUSLY HONOURED. THE SAME CONCORD ANIMATES THE GREATEST ATHLETIC FESTIVAL OF MODERN TIMES, THE OLYMPIC GAMES. MAY THEY TOO RADIATE THE SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP IN TOKEN OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE NATIONS THE ORGANISERS PROCLAIM FOR THE DURATION OF THE GAMES AN EKEKHEIRIA, THE OLYMPIC TRUCE Proclamation of the ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE XV OLYMPIAD 10th July 1952 10 J. SIGFRID EDSTRÖM HONORARY PRESIDENT OF THE I.O.C. AVERY BRUNDAGE PRESIDENT OF THE I.O.C. SINCE 1953 THE TASK COMPLETED Finnish athletes have competed in the Olympic Games since 1906. The successes gained — which include 80 Gold Medals — aroused the greatest enthusiasm among all sections of the population. The opportunity held out for a small nation to match itself in peaceful competition on equal terms even with great nations raised the noble Olympic idea to the status of a second religion among our athletes. Under the inspiration of the victories achieved at the Stockholm, Antwerp, Paris and Amsterdam Games, the thought of once holding the Games in Finland, in our own arenas, in the midst of our own people, began to haunt the minds of our boldest athletic leaders. The thought was first translated into action in 1928, when a Stadium Foundation was created, which later, with funds collected from the people, built the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki. At the meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Los Angeles in 1932, Finland appeared for the first time as a candidate for the 1940 Games. The decision was postponed to the meeting held in Berlin in 1936, when of the members present 26 cast their votes in favour of Helsinki, 21 going to her closest rival Tokio. At this meeting absent members were permitted to record by proxy votes cast in advance. The proxy votes turned the scale 36—27 in favour of Tokio. Two years later Japan voluntarily relinquished the honour and in July 1938 the 1940 Games were entrusted to Helsinki. The outbreak of world war in the autumn of 1939 made it impossible to organise these Games. Having expended much labour and means on preparations for the 1940 Games, after peace had been restored Helsinki appealed to the Finnish Government, announcing her willingness to organise the XV Olympic Games in 1952. The city was prepared to construct at its own cost new venues and enlarge the existing venues if the Government would guarantee a sum of 300 million Finnish marks — about 1300000 dollars — against eventual losses in connexion with the organisation. On receipt of this guarantee the Helsinki Municipal Council made a definitive decision on April 23rd 1947. A few sceptics certainly voiced fears that the city would be unable to stage the Games with due dignity; the decision was nevertheless unanimous. The I.O.C. dealt with the matter at its session in Stockholm on June 17th 1947. Now some members of the Committee, too, doubted Helsinki's suitability. Was Finland, burdened by an enormous war indemnity, financially in a position to stage the Games ? Would this small nation, still nursing wounds left by war, be capable of carrying out the task ? At the first ballot Helsinki received 14 votes, 15 going to rival cities. The second ballot gave Hel- sinki the required majority, 15 votes. Thus to Helsinki fell the honour of organising the 1952 Olympic Games. When the news reached Finland, town and country hastened to celebrate the event by hoisting the national flag. Newspapers published special editions expressing joy at the confidence shown in the nation and the responsibility she had been chosen to bear. In a trice an Organising Committee had been formed. At its founding meeting it passed a 13 resolution of far-reaching consequences by adopting as its guiding principle the Coubertin spirit in all its purity. Politics were once and for all eliminated. Internally this denoted a truce on the social and lingual fronts, internationally the assembling of all nations at the Games. Sporting youth was invited to Finland from the countries already belonging to the Olympic organisation, but also from the countries which now wished to join it. In some cases this was in conflict with the letter of the Olympic Protocol. Of the 81 countries invited, 79 sent representatives to the Games, 70 sending active competitors. The organisers are proud of this international success.