THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY November 7, 1964 Letter from Tokyo The Olympics S the flags of Greece, Japan and If is well known that the Japanese each other (hockey, basketball, water A Mexico were raised over the Olympic Committee was very anxious polo, football, volleyball). 6 events; 75,000 spectators in the closing cere­ to have them admitted as fellow Asian competitive events in which individuals mony of the Olympic Games, most of countries. A special Japanese delegation oppose each other (fencing, judo, wrest­ the participants felt that a really im­ flew to England to try to change the ling, boxing, canoeing and yachting), 53 portant and memorable Olympics had stand of the International Amateur events; events based only on style (gym­ been completed. Since the first modern Athletic Federation President, but with­ nastics and equestrian sports), 19 Olympics held in Athens in 1896, the out success. They then enforced the events; events also among individual Games have seen many ups and downs. ruling of the Olympic Committee by competitors but with emphasis on bet­ In the early period the Games were refusing to allow any members of the tering established records (swimming often used as a means to boost some North Korean and Indonesian Olympic and diving, track and held events, commercial fair, as occurred in Paris teams who had participated in GANEFO modern pentathlon, rowing and weight- and St Louis in the United States, In to enter the Olympic village even lifting), 74 events. There is no doubt the second period, between the two though this was against their own wish­ that in terms of absolute achievement wars, the Games got dangerously mixed es. The crowds at the Games were as the interest in the Olympics is on the up with politics, especially the eleven­ non-partisan as could be, cheering all last group. Although India was to be th Games held in Berlin from August 1 winning competitors, even those winning commended for winning the only gold to 16, 1936 under the Nazis. Since the over Japanese competitors. This feeling medal awarded to an Asian country War the emphasis has been on sporting of friendliness has been reciprocated by other than Japan, the sight of an indi­ achievement but even in this latter many of the visiting teams. For exam­ vidual straining to be not just the win­ period the success of Japan in the orga­ ple, in the initial march past the Cuban ner but the absolute best in the world nisation of the present Games has been athletes waved small Japanese flags as was one well worth coming all the way outstanding. Over 98 per cent of the they passed the Emperor's box. There to Tokyo to witness. total seating accommodation was sold was a deliberate attempt on the part in Tokyo, as contrasted with just un­ of all teams to be as un-military as I should now like to pick out one der 50 per cent at the Rome Games. possible. or two of the more important Olympic The Japanese have built special build­ successes from this point of view. There ings as permanent assets to the improve­ Division of Medals were, above all, the long distance run­ ment of sport in Tokyo. The most out­ ners, especially Bikila Abebe of Ethio­ Since most of the details of the standing are the swimming stadium pia who won the Marathon both in Games have been already published in (which seats over three times more Rome and here. The Marathon is a the press, I should like to explain some than the next largest swimming stadium gruelling race requiring immense deter­ of the general features. It is not always in the world), the Budokan (dedicated mination and judgment and Abebe suc­ to Judo), the Komazawa sports complex understood that in terms of medals cer­ ceeded in breaking his own previous re­ for held and cycling sports, and the tain sports are under-represented. The cord set up at Rome. In this race the national stadium for further field events division of medals is as follows: second place was retained by a Japanese which has been enlarged to hold 75,000 Sport No of Events up to a few hundred metres from the people. The Toda rowing course, which finishing post when an Englishman over­ Track and Field 36 was improved for the Olympics, is a took him with an uncanny burst of Swimming and Diving 22 2,000 metre long course of absolutely speed. The Japanese, Tsuburaya, was so Wrestling 16 smooth water originally developed from played out that he was not able to alter Gymnastics 14 a large gravel pit by the side of the his pace in the slightest. The second Boxing 10 Sumida river. It is now one of the surprising win was in the rowing eights Yachting 10 most perfect rowing courses 1 have ever which were won by an American team Rowing 7 seen. coached by a Hungarian refugee and Canoeing 7 consisting entirely of working men. The Weight-lifting 7 tradition of rowing being restricted to Under these conditions, it might have Cycling 7 the top universities in the U S, the been expected that some traces of na­ Fencing 6 sport has received a substantial blow. tionalistic Japanese pride might have Equestrian sports 5 Even this eight only just made the pre­ worked their way through to the actual Shooting 5 liminary (rials for selection. The New organisation of the events but: this was Judo 4 Zealander, Peter Snell, won the 800 and far from being the case. The Japanese Modern Pentathlon 2 1,500 metres—in both cases by using organisers had carefully avoided forcing Volleyball 2 the same style of staying within the their own views forward. To give an Water Polo 1 top four until near the end of the race, example: the Olympic Committees of Basketball 1 and then accelerating to come in first. North Korea and Indonesia could not Football 1 Another extraordinary win was by a believe until the very last moment that Hockey 1 the ban on their athletes who had par­ part-American Indian, William Mills, ticipated in the GANEFO games in The sports can be divided up rough­ who won the 10,000 metres race. Ra­ Djakarta would not ultimately be modi­ ly as follows: competitive events in ther interestingly his runner-up was fied and they admitted to the Games. which groups of competitors oppose Mohamed Gammoudi of Tunisia who 1769 November 7, 1964 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY arrived unexpectedly in Tokyo last year areas where they live while many Ne­ about learning to be really good at a for the Asian Games without register­ gro colleges in the United States have sport. Up to now the lapanese have ing his application beforehand and was first-class track facilities. In other always believed that Judo can be really accepted as a goodwill runner by the words, it is possible that if Africa had successfully understood only by a lapa­ Japanese organisers. At that time he did the same opportunities and competitive nese. Now they know that it is a tech­ not place himself very highly. Finally, swimming pools as the United States, nique which can be learnt like any in the swimming the ace was 18-year- it is likely that American dominance other. And, finally, the improvements old Don Schollander, a Yale freshman in this field would be lost. made to the city of Tokyo will always be there. I have no doubt that notwith­ who won the 100 and 400 metres free­ What India Must Do? style and the 400 and 800 metres relays. standing the slower rate of urbanisation Third, in spite of the dominance of and the greater poverty of India, if I could continue in this vein almost larger countries like the USA and USSR India ever succeeded in hosting the indefinitely but instead let me draw at Tokyo, there have never been so Olympic Games it would be greatly to some general lessons from the Games. many competitors from smaller coun­ India's benefit. First, it is now impossible for any indi­ tries as at these Games. But, clearly, vidual to win any competitive event by small countries cannot hope to win any himself. Winners in the different sports gold medals if they spread their com­ are differently formed. For example, petitors too thinly. The best thing for Record Small Savings long distance runners seem always to a small country to do is to choose one HE net collections of small savings be fairly short and determined men particular sport and then to pour all during the first half year of the whereas some of the winners of the its interest and effort into that sport T current financial year, which ended on short sprints and dashes were enor­ to the almost total exclusion of (he September 30, 1964, show an all lime- mous in size and also very often ne­ rest. Though cricket and hockey are groes. But the training methods used very popular in India it is now very im­ record of Rs 55.33 crores. This figure and the degree of understanding a run­ portant for Indians to systematically is Rs 11.33 crores higher than the pre­ ner has of his own physical capabilities develop some particular track or swim­ vious best achieved in the preceding are extremely important. Moreover, il ming event: as well because there are year. seems to be very difficult to become 74 events in these sports against only It is significant that during practical­ really good at one of the sports unless one in hockey.