ATHLETICS As in previous Olympic Games, the International Amateur Athletic Fédération invited its member from the host country to provide a team of officiais for the Games. The genesis INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR ATHLETIC FEDERATION of planning was the appointment by the Amateur Athletic Union of Australia, of a co-ordinating OFFICERS AND JURY OF APPEAL committee comprising Messrs. L. B. Curnow (Chairman), F. H. Pizzey, T. B. Dodds, S. A. Président : The Marquess of Exeter, K.C.M.G. (Great Britain and Northern Jreland) Embling and C. W. FI. Grant. Hon. Secretary : D. T. P. Pain {Great Britain and Northern Ireland) D. J. Ferris (U.S.A.) This appointment was wise as athletics in Australia, a continent of six States, is controlled B. Zauli (Italy) firstly by constituent bodies in each State, with the Union as the governing body. Naturally N. Kaliiiin (U.S.S.R.) there was keen compétition for selection as officiais, and the co-ordinating committee had the K. Knenicky (Czechoslomkia) over-all power and the difficult task of making final selection from ail States. AMATEUR ATHLETIC UNION OF AUSTRALIA There was a total of three hundred and fifteen Australian officiais whose demeanour and Président : H. R. Weir, O.B.E. efficiency in the field earned the highest praise. The only overseas officiais, apart from the Vice-President : C. R. Aitken Jury, were seven Walking Judges, 1 Hon. Secretary-Treasurer : A. J. Hodsdon INTERNATIONAL WALKING JUDGES 1 G. Oberweger {Italy) A. Fruktov {U.S.S.R.) I. lonescu (Rumania) A. Issurin {U.S.S.R.) E. Linde {Sweden) J. J. Cummins {Australia) Judges, recorders and lap scorers watch Kouts winning 5,000 métrés. B. Fehervari {Hungary) M. Moroney {Australia) F. Simek {Hungary) J. A. Larkin {Australia) A. Libotte {Switzerland) ARENA MANAGER L. B. Curnow 1 DEPUTY ARENA MANAGER F. H. Pizzey Technical Manager : C. W. FL Grant Chief Surveyor : A. H. Campbell Equipment Manager : H. A. Engel Controller of Officiais : D. F. Bell Track Field Referee D. C. Rapley Chief Field Referee T. B. Dodds Deputy Referee R. Clemson Referees, Throwing H. W. McSweeney Chief Steward C. H. F. Morgan F. W. Flumphreys Chief Judge T. F. Hantke Referees, Jumping W. T. Gay Chief Timekeeper R. Barnes J. P. Metcalfe Chief Umpire F. T. Treacy Starters S. A. Embling J. L. Patching (Chief) M. A. Belshore Announcers English French K. Hudson M. Petit K. W. McPhail P. J. Bloome Road Eyents Manager .. A. E. Robinson Assistant Manager .. N. L. Goble Referee Marathon and Deputy Referee Walks C. H. Gardiner Chief Walk Judge and Referee Walks .. A. Libotte {Switzerland) ; • r a• • • v, LJ » % ' • |- f t 262 H ^ m* À .. m t; i ' > iWI 11 r é 1 > ^ j r/v% t' r j '* Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library XVI OLYMPIAD ATHLETICS Track and Field Layout Warming-up Ground The track had seven circular lanes with eight in the straight, also a steeplechase course. Immediately adjacent to the Main Stadium a warming-up ground was provided, For the field events there were three shot put areas, two hammer and two discus circles, two long comprising a 200-metres circular cinder track with necessary field event areas and equipment. jump areas and one high jump area. Some difficulty was experienced in the first days of the compétition, as the contestants Care was taken in the layout of the field event areas to ensure that competitors did not had to make their way through spectators as they were passing to and from the Stadium, and jump into the sun, suffer undue impediment from the prevailing winds, or run or jump through through the ever présent autograph hunters. The position was alleviated by erecting temporary shadows. Wherever practicable, close spectator background was avoided. An innovation was barriers, altering the ingress and egress doors and providing police assistance. the use of two pôle vault, shot put and long jump areas for the décathlon compétition. This Dressing Rooms ensured that the varions compétitions were finished before darkness. The number of dressing rooms provided, 27 for men and 14 for women, proved adéquate. The track had two straights of 85-04 métrés (93 yards) and easily contained a hockey and Unfortunately many of the amenities provided, such as blankets and pillows, disappeared on the soccer field, lengths of the run-ups for the various field events being— first day, as did replacements. In future, nations could perhaps be requested to provide their own blankets. Long jumps—to the take-off boards, 47-86 métrés (157 feet), men ; 39-63 métrés (130 feet), women Equipment Hop, step and jump—39-63 métrés (130 feet) to the take-off board In accordance with the I.A.A.F. rules, the only privately owned equipment which could be used in the actual compétition were vaulting pôles and starting blocks. Javelin throw—36-58 métrés (120 feet) with a further extension over the track of 8-13 métrés (28 feet) if required A complété set of testing gauges was made by the Royal Melbourne Technical Collège Pôle vaults—45-72 métrés (150 feet) with an accuracy of 1/10,000 of an inch. This equipment made the task of testing simple and quick. Administrators of athletic compétitions would save themselves trouble and time with High jump—15-24 métrés (50 feet) the aid of such gauges. Ail running events had a common finishing point, most desirable for the use of photo-finish To guard against the possibility of wet weather, a track drying machine comprising a equipment. Track and field event measurements and levels were in accordance with the rules geared-down jet engine mounted on a low vehicle was designed and produced by the Royal of the LA.A.F. The interiors of the discus and hammer throw circles were concrete, and Australian Air Force, but there was no need for it to be used. that of the shot putting circle specially treated en-tout-cas. The 8-Iane marking machine in opération. Track Composition Foundation of the track was laid in November, 1955, and then re-turfed to permit the playing of the winter game of Australian football. This allowed the base to become thoroughly Consolidated. The en-tout-cas mixture which was to form the top surface of the track had been imported from England. Laying of this began on ]7th September, 1956, and was completed by mid-October. Criticism was written at the time that the track was unsatisfactory, but this seems to be belied by the Olympic records broken. In spite of a drying wind, at times most trying to the competitors, the track held up well to the eight days running and the surface improved throughout the week. Maintenance of the track was carried out by the suppliers and the marking was done by the Amateur Athletic Union of Australia. 264 Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library XVI OLYMPIAD Photographers Starting Limited numbers of photographers were permitted on the arena, and on one or two Two starters and a reserve with five assistants were occasions they caused some interference. One cine-operator used a noisy caméra to the distraction of competitors and caused several starts to be held up. In view of modem appointed and they received helpful information from developments in photography, increased use could perhaps be made of telescopic lenses which the 1948 and 1952 starters. Three assistants acted at should overcome the necessity for photographers to enter the arena. Many excellent pictures each event. Their duties were to check and assemble were taken from outside the boundary fence. competitors in the rear, place in correct lanes and then hand them over to the starter. Photo-Finish Oméga and the Race Finish Recording Company combined to install and efficiently operate the eiectric timing and photo-finish equipment. The chief assistant had three flags, green used to indicate an unsteady competitor or any other incident Public Interest which did not mean a " false start " ; yellow, one " false Spectator enthusiasm and public interest were even greater than expected and a near start " ; red, two " false start " and disqualification. capacity crowd attended each day. Over the eight days more than 660,000 people paid for admission, which exceeded the attendances at any previous Games Ail assistants had 1/10 second stop watches and took the times for statistical information. Circulars were sent to ail team managers giving détails of procédure to be adopted, and the starters The start of the 2nd Semi-Final of the 110 métrés Hwdles, showing starter and assistants, two seated and one standing with flags. assisted at training grounds during the ten days prior to the Games. Procédure.—The starter, wearing an orange-coloured coat always stood in front of the competitors—sometimes on an 18-in. high platform—with the check starter behind him operating a red and white dise 24 inches in diameter mounted on a pôle 7 feet high and also holding a third pistol. The check starter recorded the time between " set " and firing the pistol. Near the track referee, an officiai held a red and white dise similar to that held by the check starter. He turned the dise to show white when the referee was ready. The starter when ready instructed the check starter to turn his dise to show the white side to the referree, at the same time blowing his whistle to indicate that he was ready to start the race. At ail staggered starts the starter used a microphone which operated loudspeakers plaeed adjacent to each competitor. Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library XVI OLYMPIAD ATHLETICS Statistics Gold Medal winners came from 11 of the 59 countries represented, Silver and Bronze Total number of events started .