XVI OLYMPIAD MELBOURNE 1956 HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II Patron of the Games THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR THE GAMES OF THE XVI OLYMPIAD MELBOURNE 1956 Copyright —1958 by The Organizing Committee of the XVI Olympiad, Melbourne, 1956 Printed by: W. M. Houston, Government Printer, Melbourne, Australia PREFACE It is a truism that there are four parties to the process of history—some personify history, some make it, some watch it, some record it. It is to this Fourth Estate, to those who contributed their moiety to this history of the Games of the XVI Olympiad and whose task made up in tedium what it lacked in glamour, that acknowledgment is tendered here. Their work, whether paid for or voluntary, was not unrewarded. Each in his or her own way helped to fire and raise the Torch which perpetually lights this matchless achievement of the youth of the nations in world-wide understanding and fellowship. This, like virtue, is its own reward. The publication of the Official Report is a salient obligation of the Charter of the organizing of the Games. Its requirements in gathering, sifting, checking, condensing, and indexing an enormous mass of material in manuscript and pictures grows more laborious with the years. Its compilation represents an interval of eighteen months since the Games. Responsibility for the contents is accepted by the Organizing Committee, whose thanks are due to so many contributors that a comprehensive acknowledgment is not possible, but among whom the following must be placed foremost : The Arena Managers for their assistance in compiling the reports, and to the following whose added assistance is much appreciated : M. A. H. Marsden, C. W. Porter (Torch Relay), A. Tunstall (Boxing), G. W. Jones (Cycling), M. Buckner (Football), J. X. O'Driscoll (Modern Pentathlon), J. Fullerton, R. E. Darling (Demonstrations), E. Lake (Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Athletics and Swimming), and F. H. Pizzey (Athletics). Grateful thanks must also be tendered to the Chairmen of Committees and Sub-Committees whose reports form the basis of the preliminary text, and for the assistance received from the Commonwealth News and Information Bureau and the Australian and Overseas Newspapers and Magazines, which contributed to the pool of photographs from which was drawn the majority of illustrations appearing in this Report. There were many donations of individual photographs received from private sources. And finally, acknowledgment is due to the Honourable Sir Wilfred Kent Hughes,* Chairman of the Organizing Committee ; Mr. Edgar Tanner, Honorary Secretary of the Organizing Committee and the Australian Olympic Federation ; Mr. W. Uren, Executive Officer of the Australian Olympic Federation ; Mr. T. Forristal, Chairman of the Winding-up Committee, and Mr. P. W. Nette, Administrative Director of the XVI Olympiad. All sporting reports were submitted to the International Sporting Federations for approval before final editing. * Knighted in New Year Honours 1957 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 4 Compiling and indexing these reports entailed greater difficulty than was first envisaged, for reasons which warrant explanation. Results, for instance, were issued, as were amendments, alterations, and comments, as the currency of the competitions required. These were not in sufficient detail for permanent record. Some Federations took their results away with them without leaving copies with either the Organizing Committee or their Australian associations. Notwithstanding months of correspondence, some minor details and names of officials are still not complete, a matter for editorial regret. The spelling of names adopted is that on the entry forms. This may not invariably follow English usage, but the rule having been made it was followed, and it is trusted disapproval will not be occasioned. In some cases—particularly in South American and Asian names—the correct index name was difficult to select. Names having prefixes presented a particular problem in indexing. One surprise which confronted the compilors was to find that 302 entrants who came to Melbourne did not take part in any event. These are not included in the index. It is hoped that none has been undeservedly omitted. The list of acknowledgments would not be complete without reference to my office staff, especially Mr. E. Lake, whose services in checking manuscripts and reading proofs were essential to the end result, and to my editorial assistant, Mr. Allan Dawes. EDWARD A. DOYLE, Honorary Editor. 5 CONTENTS PAGE EDITOR'S PREFACE .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 A GREEN AND PLEASANT MEMORY .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 THE TORCH MOVES UP TO ROME .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 THE GAMES OF THE XVI OLYMPIAD .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 ORGANIZATION, ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHART .. .. .. .. 32 FINANCE .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35 INVITATIONS TO THE GAMES .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 PROVISION OF SPORTING ARENAS .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 TECHNICAL— 49 Training .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 52 Sports Handbooks .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 57 Circulars .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 61 Entry Forms .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 61 Score-cards and Score-sheets .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 63 Programmes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 64 Sports Equipment .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 67 Flags .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 72 Competitors' Numbers .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 75 Sports and Demonstrations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 77 Sports Programme .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 78 Co-operation with International Sporting Federations .. .. .. .. 79 Judges and Sports Officials .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 80 Staffs for competition requirements .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 81 Congresses of International Sporting Federations .. .. .. .. .. 81 Timekeeping and Photo-finish .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 82 Scoreboard .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 85 Results Service .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 86 Public Address .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 86 Announcements .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 87 Photography inside the Playing Areas .. .. .. .. .. .. 88 Accommodation for Competitors and Officials .. .. .. .. .. 88 Refreshments .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 88 Interpreters .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 88 Attachés .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 89 Services Participation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 91 Youth Organization .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 94 Police .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 95 Olympic Hymn .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 97 National Anthems.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 97 Victory Ceremonies .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 98 Medals, Diplomas, and Badges .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 99 6 Contents—continued. PAGE IDENTITY CARDS . 109 SEATING RESERVATIONS. AT STADIA . 112 BOX OFFICE . 114 HOUSING AND CATERING . 121 PRESS AND PUBLICITY . 138 FILM AND TELEVISION . 156 COMMUNICATIONS AND BROADCASTING . 161 TRANSPORT . 178 RECEPTION . 185 MEDICAL SERVICES . 188 FINE ARTS . 194 OLYMPIC CIVIC COMMITTEE. 199 I.O.C. MEETING IN MELBOURNE . 202 TORCH RELAY . 206 OPENING CEREMONY . 224 ARENA MANAGERS . 259 ANALYSIS OF COMPETITORS . 260 THE COMPETITIONS— Athletics . 262 Basketball . 364 Boxing . 376 Canoeing . 396 Cycling . 411 Fencing . 430 Football . 457 Gymnastics . 471 Hockey . 500 Modern Pentathlon . 512 Rowing . 532 Shooting . 558 Swimming . 580 Weightlifting . 626 Wrestling . 648 Yachting . 690 Demonstrations . 713 CLOSING CEREMONY . 716 INDEX OF COMPETITORS . 728 DONATIONS . 759 7 HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH TAKES THE SALUTE ON OPENING DAY AVERY BRUNDAGE President of the International Olympic Committee HUGH R. WEIR, O.B.E. Member of the I.O.C. in Australia LEWIS LUXTON, O.B.E. Member of the I.O.C. in Australia and Deputy Chairman, Organizing Committee for the XVI Olympiad 11 INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE Founder : BARON PIERRE DE COUBERTIN PAST PRESIDENTS Mr. D. Vikelas (Greece), 1894-1896 Baron Pierre de Coubertin (France), 1896-1925 Count de Baillet Latour (Belgium), 1925-1941 Mr. J. Sigfrid Edström (Sweden), 1941-1952 HONORARY PRESIDENT Mr. J. Sigfrid Edström PRESIDENT Mr. Avery Brundage VICE-PRESIDENTS Mr. Armand Massard The Marquess of Exeter, K.C.M.G. EXECUTIVE BOARD Mr. Avery Brundage (U.S.A.) H.R.H. Prince Axel of Denmark Dr. Miguel A. Moenck (Cuba) Mr. Armand Massard (France) (Denmark) Count Paolo Thaon di Revel The Marquess of Exeter, K.C.M.G. H. E. Mohammed Taher (Egypt) (Italy) (Great Britain) CHANCELLOR Mr. Otto Mayer HONORARY MEMBERS Mr. R. C. Aldao (Argentine) Duke Adolf Frederick von Mecklemburg-Schwerin (Germany) Sir Thomas Fearnley (Norway) Mr. Joaquin Serratosa Cibils (Uruguay) Sir Harold Luxton (Australia) Dr. José Pontès (Portugal) MEMBERS Mr. Angelo C. Bolanaki (Greece) Major-General C. F. Pahud de Dr. Giorgio di Stefani (Italy) Dr. C. T. Wang (China) Mortanges (Holland) General José de J. Clark F. H. E. Alfredo Benavides (Peru) Mr. Benedikt G. Waage (Iceland) (Mexico) Mr. Arnaldo Guinle (Brazil) Mr. Hugh Weir (Australia) Sheikh Gabriel Gemayel (Lebanon) Dr. J. Ferreira Santos (Brazil) Mr. A. Sidney Dawes (Canada) Lord Killanin (Ireland) Colonel P.-W. Scharroo (Holland) Dr. Manfred Mautner Ritter von Mr. Aleksei Romanov (U.S.S.R.) Lord Aberdare (Great Britain) Markhof (Austria) General Vladimir Stoïtcheff (Bul- Dr. K. Ritter von Halt (Germany) Prof. Shou-Yi-Tung (China) garia) Mr. G. D. Sondhi (India) Maj. Raja Bhalindra Singh (India) Mr. Enrique Alberdi (Argentine) Mr. Marte R. Gómez (Mexico) Mr. Stanko Bloudek (Yugoslavia) Dr. Julio Bustamente (Venezuela) Mr. François Pietri (France) Mr. Bo Ekelund (Sweden) Mr. Julio Gerlein Comelin Sir Arthur Porritt (New