Pl. 25. WINNERS IN THE FIFTH OLYMPIAD. G. A. BRAGLIA, Italy. Gymnastics; Individual Comp. Norway’s team in Gymnastic Comp. III. THE STADIUM ARENA DURING THE OLYMPIC GAMES. GYMNASTICS. THE COMMITTEE FOR GYMNASTICS. t the request of the Swedish Olympic Committee and of the Swedish National Gymnastic and Athletic Asso- ciation, the Swedish Gymnastic Association elected a Committee to arrange for the gymnastic competitions and displays of the Olympic Games of 1912. The Committee of the Association last-mentioned appointed Captain EINAR NERMAN (as president), and GEORG LÖFGREN , Esq., and empowered these gentlemen to add to their numbers as occasion required. This was done; Lieutenant W. CARLBERG being chosen secretary in the autumn of 1910, and other members were appointed, so that, finally, the Gymnastic Committee had the following compo- sition : President: Captain EINAR NERMAN. Secretary: Lieutenant W. CARLBERG, Lieutenant O. HOLMBERG. Other Members: Captain E. LIEBERATH, Captain E. LITTORIN, GEORG LÖFGREN, Esq., E. LÖFVENIUS, Esq. DRAWING UP THE PROGRAMME FOR GYMNASTICS. In the spring of 1910, the Committee sent in its first draft pro- gramme for gymnastics. It included nothing but displays. The Meet- ing of the International Olympic Committee at Luxemburg expressed the desire, however, that gymnastic competitions should be in- cluded, too, and although the Gymnastic Committee considered that inter- national competitions were unsuitable, it determined to agree to the proposals of the International Olympic Committee, and have both competitions and displays on the programme. 504 After a number of alterations — caused by representations made from various quarters — had been made in the earliest proposals, the final programme for gymnastics was drawn up as follows. PROGRAMME FOR GYMNASTICS. The Stadium, Saturday, 6 July—Monday, 15 July, 1912. Max. number of competitors from each nation: in the individual competition 6, in each of the team competitions: I team. I. Team competition with exercises according to the Swedish system. Teams of not less than 16 nor more than 40. Time limit, 45 minutes. II. Team competition with exercises according to any system except the Swedish. Teams of not less than 16 nor more than 40 Time limit, 45 minutes. III. Individual competition with exercises on horizontal bar, parallel bars, rings and pommelled horses. IV. Displays. One team of men and one team of women from each nation. Time limit, 45 minutes. The chief diversity of opinion in the Committee was caused by the method to be adopted for the division of the competitors into groups for the team competitions, and the time to be occupied by each group, and as the fixing of a time-limit of 45 minutes for each team, especially, occasioned much discussion, some account ought to be given here of the development of the question. The Committee for Gymnastics, after consulting the Swedish Olym- pic Committee, originally fixed the limit at 45 minutes. At the Meet- ing of the International Olympic Committee at Buda-Pesth, a proposal was made on the part of Denmark that the time should be extended to one hour, but Colonel Balck (Sweden) informed the Meeting that this was impossible. The Swedish Olympic Committee, during the summer of 1911, asked the Committee for Gymnastics, however, whether it had any objection to the proposed extension of the time. The Committee in question recommended the measure, but then the Swedish Olympic Committe found it could not adopt it. In December, 1911, the Committee for Gymnastics renewed its application for an extension of the time to 60 minutes, but with the same result. For various motives, Germany, among other countries, determined not to take part in the Gymnastic Competitions, one reason given being that the time proposed — 45 minutes — was too short. To do away with this objection, the Swedish Olympic Committe, in the spring of 1912, determined that the time-limit should be extended to one hour for team competitions, but the step did not have the desired result as far as Germany was concerned. 505 GENERAL PREPARATIONS. Apparatus. No suitable premises of sufficient size for the gymnastic competi- tions and displays being available, arrangements had to be made to carry them out in the Stadium. The Committee for Gymnastics, therefore, drew up plans for fixed gymnastic apparatus, so constructed that it could be erected in the Stadium arena. This apparatus was made by E. G. Ekstrand, Gym- nastic Apparatus Maker, Stockholm. Concrete sockets were sunk in the ground, intended to receive the supports. As can be seen by the drawings, there were in this apparatus 20 One side of fixed gymnastic apparatus, with 10 sets of ribb-stalls. “ribbstalls”, which could be used from both sides; 34 vertical ropes, 2 inclined ropes, and 4 double beams. Some of the apparatus needed, but not existing in Sweden — 4 sets of parallel bars; 4 horizontal bars; 4 pommelled horses and a staging with 4 rings — was obtained from Dietrich & Hannach, Chemnitz, but, unfortunately, some of the sections were not properly adjusted, nor were the horizontal bars of the length ordered. The competitors criticized this material in other respects, too, during the course of the Games. In order to give the gymnastic exercises a greater resemblance to those carried out in gymnasiums, a large “floor”, 15 x 25 met., was laid down close to the apparatus. Dressing Rooms. In spite of the Stadium being of great size, and of the best use being made of the space available, there was not a sufficient number of dressing rooms for the gymnasts, so that the Riding School behind the Stadium was taken and made use of for the purpose in question. 506 Detail-drawing, showing method of fixing the ribb-stalls, and the beams and the bands of iron across the beams. Plan of the removable gymnastic apparatus, with one side turned outwards. Gym- nastic apparatus shown: 20 sets ribb-stalls; 4 beams, with double beams and can- als for d:o; 2 single inclined ropes with guide ropes: 26 vertical ropes. 507 Detail-drawing of iron sockets sunk in arena, and of the posts, for fixed gymnastic apparatus, which are let down into these sockets, together with wooden wedges for wedging fast the posts after insertion. Plan, showing the beams, and the iron-bands across them for fixing the ribb-stalls. 508 Detail-drawing showing method of fastening together the top beams. Detail-drawing of the top beams and of the iron band around them. 509 Plan showing mountings for fastening of ribb-stalls. a) A piece of metal whose top (riveted on) is screwed fast to the ribb-stall posts; b) the metal screwed fast to the beam. Officials. The officials were: Chief Leader: Captain Einar Nerman. Adjutants: Dr. Hedvig Malm- ström; Mr Thure Lindforss (Gymnastic Director) and Lieutenant Hjalmar Hedenblad. Leader of the Team Competitions: Major P. Lundblad. Adjutant: Captain Gerhard Winroth. Leader of the Individual Competition: Lieutenant Wilhelm Carlberg. Adjutant: Lieutenant G. Setterberg. Leader of the Displays: Captain A. Krautmeyer. Chief Orderly: Lieutenant A. Berg von Linde. Adjutant: Fröken Mia Shannong (Gymnastic Director). Chief Storekeeper: Georg Löfgren, Esq. Adjutant: Lieutenant Gunnar Höjer. Secretaries of the Competitions: E. Löfvenius, Esq., Captain Carl van Platen, Lieutenant Gustaf Moberg. Hostesses of the Women Gymnasts: Fröknarna Louise von Bahr, Anna Lundberg, Maria Palmqvist, Sigrid Hellström and Signild Arpi. Offices. During the Games, the Offices of the Gymnastic Competitions were on the 5th floor in the east tower of the Stadium. At this place information was supplied, meetings were held, and results were cal- culated. THE COMPETITIONS AND DISPLAYS. Meetings of the Judges. In order to obtain uniformity in the judging, and to avoid disputes between the judges, during or after the competitions, the said officials in the various groups were called to meetings at different 510 times by the chief leader, who then informed the judges in question of their duties, gave them copies of the programme of the competi- tions, showed them the protocol-forms, etc. This having been done, the judges had private deliberations concerning their work. Time Table. Saturday, 6 July: Sweden: Display by men gymnasts. 12.00 noon—p. m. women Monday, 8 July: Denmark: Display by men gymnasts. 9.30a. m.—11.00 a. m. women Norway: p. m. Finland: p. m. Sweden: Team competition I (with movements Norway: according to Swedish Denmark: system) Wednesday, 10 July: a. m. a. m. Germany: Team competition III Norway: (with free choice of p. m. Denmark: movements and appa- p. m. Finland: ratus) Luxemburg Hungary: Display by men gymnasts. Thursday, 11 July: a. m. a. m. Luxemburg: Team competition II Hungary: (according to special Germany: p.m. regulations) p. m. Great Britain: Italy: Russia: Display by men gymnasts. Friday, 12 July: a.m. p. m. Individual competition on horizontal bar, parallel bars, rings and pommelled horse. THE COMPETITIONS. TEAM COMPETITION I. This competition took place between 2 and 5 p. m. , Monday, 8 July. Judges: Major O. Lefebure, Belgium, N. H. Rasmussen, B. A., Denmark, Captain A. E. Syson, Great Britain, Major L. Bentzen, Norway, Captain L. K. Wallenius, Sweden. SWEDEN, 2—3 p. m. Leader, Captain Ebbe Lieberath. The team consisted of 24 men, in addition to the bearer of the colours, Lieutenant K. E. E. Ekblad. Osvald Holmberg; Nils Daniel Granfeldt; Lars Daniel Norling; Knut E. Torell; Karl Silfverstrand; Karl J. Svensson; Axel Norling; Claës A. Wersäll; David Wi- 511 man; P. D. Bertilsson; Per E. Nilsson; J. Sörensson; Sven Landberg ; Karl Erik Svensson; Bengt Rudolf Norelius; A. B. G. Kullberg; Anders Hyllander; Yngve Stiemspetz; O. Edward Wennerholm; C. Hartzell; Axel J. Janse; C. E. Carlberg; S. A. A. Rosén; O. Silfverskiöld. Dress : White gymnastic jersey with short arms; white trousers; white shoes; blue and yellow belt.