Olympic Cavalcade

LOS ANGELES, 1932 173 and at the other by the Museum. Beyond the quadrangle are seven acres of roses in bloom all the year round, making an impressive entry to Olympic Park. Extending in a great circle, of which Olympic Park was the hub, were ranged the other auditoria, stadiums, water courses and facilities which had been prepared for the Games. These commencing with the Olympic Village where the men athletes resided, the facilities provided by the Organ– izing Committee included fifteen first-class training fields and gymnasia, and Riviera Country Club, the road cycling course, the Chapman Park Hotel where the women athletes lived, the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, the Shooting Range, the Olympic Auditorium, the Long Beach Marine Stadium and the Olympic Yachting Course. At one end of the Olympic Stadium there rose to a height of 107ft. above the Central Arch of the Peristyle the Olympic Torch, which was constructed 0f concrete, atop of which was a bronze bowl, and in this, after much experimentation, it had been found possible to keep a suitable flame burning both day and night throughout the Games, from 30 July to 14 August. In these Games approximately 2000 of the world's greatest athletes chosen from 38 different nations were, as was said by the great American sports writer, Grantland Rice, housed together in one village. For the Opening Ceremony of the Xth Olympic Games the great Stadium at Los Angeles was packed to capacity as roo,ooo voices, led by t]-le Olympic choir and band of 250 instruments, sang the 'Star Spangled Banner'. Then came the Parade of Nations with nearly 2000 young men and women following the flags of their countries into the arena. · Greece, as Founder of the Ancient Olympiads and host at the first of the modern festivals, led the procession. Then came the other competing nations in alphabetical order, with the U.S.A. contingent, as representative of the host nation, bringing up the rear. When all the teams had reached their appointed stations the Olympic Torch ritual was performed. The Olympic Hymn was sung and the flags were raised as six trumpeters dressed in white greeted the opening with a ~anfare of trumpets from the top of the Peristyle. The Olympic Torch was ht, guns thundered and thousands of pigeons were released. The Games were formally opened by Vice-President Charles Curtis, U.S.A., on behalf of President Hoover. The Games were then dedicated and blessed by Dr. R. G. Sprol, President of the University of California, and the O_Iympic Oath was pronounced on behalf of all competitors by the late Lteut. George Calnan, U.S.A. During the fortnight that followed there were decided 135 contests in 14 branches of major sport. · The competitions took place at ro centres throughout 100 square miles, and while the decisions were being taken Olympic and World's record~ Were falling as fast as leaves in Vallombrosa. _