Olympic Cavalcade

CHAPTER IX V T H 0 L_Y MP I AD , S T 0 C K H 0 L M z SW E D EN, 1912 AT a meeting of the I.O.C. held in Berlin on 28 May, 1909, a decision was taken to invite Sw~den to be the Host Nation for the Vth Olympiad in 1912. The possibility of such an invitation being issued had been hinted at _ , while the I:Vth Olympiad was being completea in London, but there had -b~en some rumour alsp thaf a similar invitation might be extended to Germanyto hold the next Celebration in Berlin. Meanwhile, the-Swedish Olympic Committee ha-d been examining the proposal, especially from the point o( finance and manageability. I~ was _assumed that, with the coiltests sensibly reduced, a very simple Stadium, with limited seating accommodation, might be ereeted in the Ostermalm Athletic Grnunds. One spectator stand would oe erec.ted for permanent -use in concrete, others of timber which would be r_emoved at the c~:mclusion -of the Games. The Games would last eight days) nstead of twel-v:e as in . London in 1908. _,_ - The total _cost, includiqg advertising, secretariat and unforeseen con tin~ gencks, was estimated at ~2. 3,050>, _ the receipts at £4,400. A peti.tion was forwarded to King Gustq.vas V, begging that His Majesty's Government, by -permitting aflother drawjng in the-AthJetic ~ottery; would make.,.it possible fo-r Sweden to_unclertake the organization of the Games. With this indirect guarantee of -the Governni<mt, Olympic Congr~ss_ at the Berlin Meeting _resolved to entrust Sweden with the task. _. Baron Pierre de <::ouberi:in, in his Presidential address; had some laudatory remarks to make and some good advice to give. ~ "Ofall countries in the world," he said, "Sweden; at ihe mornent,possesses the hest condi;io!'fS n~cessaryfor organizing the Olympic Games in a· way that will satisfY all-:ilie claims_that athletics -and our expectations may demanrJ. .• · ~ l_t will he n~ce-!sary_-to avoid:atteznpting to_qopy the Olympic Games pf London. ~ The next Olympiads must not have suGh a character, ik_ey must not be so com- preheciiv.._e. Jj'here was alt.oge!}er too muchi n London. ']"he Games must be kept - mofe purely aihletiC; -t!iey mus-t he more dign~fied, more d{screet; more in accord– _-z_ance-with classic -afbd artistic requirements; more intimgte and, above all, lescs _expensive. • _. • -With the Worthern G_ames as a mod~(, we are l~d to consider - t'hat agran1_of3oo,ooo.francs., over and above the recezpts that may he counted on from the-~sale~ of tickets, olight to he sufficient security for an 0/ympie- Corn– - mittee." He_pointed out- ajso that ~here must be po doubt that London -would hpnout·her obligation..Theremust, at all costs,-be no repetition of the Rome <:Iebacle. ~ .~ =- ~ The task of organizing ana carrying OlJ_t the QJy~pie Games_of I9I~ 86 ~ ~ -