These Olympics have been notable not only in themselves but for the effect they have had upon all who have participated in them and watched them.
These have been the biggest athletic games ever staged, the best organized, the most largely attended, the most picturesque and most productive of new and startling records.
However, that is not only all true, but it is the picture constantly impressed on one's mind as one moves from one stirring score to another, always amid a good-humored, happy crowd, always under a forest of bright-colored flags, never lost of jostled with plenteous space around and courteous guides at hand.
That is the picture foreign visitors will take home, to the undoubted improvement of world relations and general amiability. This may be only a temporary truce in the world's quarrels, a pleasant interlude in the long procession of diplomatic disagreeableness, but even at the reaction cannot help but be good and lasting.
Take the effect on the German hosts themselves. One has noted everywhere not only pride in German athletic accomplishment - which has been really notable - and the utmost satisfaction in the great achievement of staging the show itself, but equal pride in the unstinted foreign praise given that achievement.
It is quite certain that the foreign reaction was awaited here with a ceratin measure of trepidation. There is manifest anxiety for once to win foreign praise. It has been forthcoming from every quarter and the anxious hosts are happy over the fact - happy and amiable beyond reckoning. They know now they have made an excellent impression upon upon their cosmopolitan visitors. They are back in the fold of nations who have "arrived".
Going a little deeper it is perhaps true also that this contact with many nationalities and races has made the Germans more human again after four long years of a régime which, while it strengthened, tended also to harden its votaries. It might even be said that this experience has deflated the German ego a bit. They have seen here for themselves that all races are good, some in certain respects perhaps even slightly superior to the Teutonic.
These Olympics will be remembered for the amazing feats of Jesse Owens of Ohio. His friendship with German athlete Lutz Long and competitor is a model for other athletes to emulate in the future.
The Olympics used a new technology, television to mixed results. It can be very difficult to discern images at time. It is a technology that much improvement can be made upon.
Showing posts with label Olympics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Olympics. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Friday, August 11, 2006
Lima Mobs beseige German Consulate
The news announcing that Peru's 4-2 victory in soccer over Austria was ruled out by the International Football Federation in Berlin caused indignant crowds to assemble here as well as in Port Callao today to protest the decision.
As soon as the report was received, crowds running in the thousands congregated at the principal newspaper offices to await further information. The local Olympic Committee immediately took up the matter with the President of the Republic, Oscar Benavides, who instructed the committee to withdraw its delegation from the Olympic Games.
Then a shouting crowd started a march to the palace, the thousands in line clogging traffic and pausing en route to tear down the Olympic flag which was flying from the business house, the German manager of which is the Austrian consul here. The arrival of police prevented further damage.
Booing, whistling, yelling and shouting, the demonstrators reached the main square, the Plaza de Armas, where they were joined by others from the Newspaper offices. When they arrived in front of the palace, they urged the President to appear.
Accompanied by Ministers of State and military aides, President Benavides appeared and listened to the speeches. In reply, he said: "I have received cables from the Argentine, Chile, Uraguay and Mexico solidifying the Peruvian attitude against the crafty Berlin decision".
The President further recommended that the demonstrators bind themselves clamly not to imitate the unsportsmanlike Berlin decision. The President of the local games committee read the cables sent and received to the crowd, including cables from the Austrian consul and the local Nazi representative in which reconsideration of the International Federation's decision was asked.
Singing the National Anthem, the crowd continued its demonstration along the main street, where it gained further supporters. With the Chilean, Argentine, Uraguayan and Ecuadorian flags accompanying that of Peru, the crowd surged toward the Plaze San Martin, were it was addressed by various speakers.
Reforming its ranks the crowd later marched to the German consulate where is stoned windows in protest. Police arriving in trucks peacefully managed to get the crowd to disperse.
Stevedores did not work for two hours on the two vessels at Callao, the German Ammon and the Norwegian Remulus, as an act of protest, while various hundreds paraded in the streets there protesting and voicing their indignation. The Police meanwhile guarded the German Consulate.
The Afternoon papers bitterly attacked the federation's decision in the editorials. One said :"It lacks basis as a reason, the Austrians' only pretext was to eliminate the team which had a good chance to win and thereby see its national flag wave from the scene of operations."
The whole press praises the gesture of the Latin American delegations in meeting in Berlin to support the Peruvians. All is quiet here now.
As soon as the report was received, crowds running in the thousands congregated at the principal newspaper offices to await further information. The local Olympic Committee immediately took up the matter with the President of the Republic, Oscar Benavides, who instructed the committee to withdraw its delegation from the Olympic Games.
Then a shouting crowd started a march to the palace, the thousands in line clogging traffic and pausing en route to tear down the Olympic flag which was flying from the business house, the German manager of which is the Austrian consul here. The arrival of police prevented further damage.
Booing, whistling, yelling and shouting, the demonstrators reached the main square, the Plaza de Armas, where they were joined by others from the Newspaper offices. When they arrived in front of the palace, they urged the President to appear.
Accompanied by Ministers of State and military aides, President Benavides appeared and listened to the speeches. In reply, he said: "I have received cables from the Argentine, Chile, Uraguay and Mexico solidifying the Peruvian attitude against the crafty Berlin decision".
The President further recommended that the demonstrators bind themselves clamly not to imitate the unsportsmanlike Berlin decision. The President of the local games committee read the cables sent and received to the crowd, including cables from the Austrian consul and the local Nazi representative in which reconsideration of the International Federation's decision was asked.
Singing the National Anthem, the crowd continued its demonstration along the main street, where it gained further supporters. With the Chilean, Argentine, Uraguayan and Ecuadorian flags accompanying that of Peru, the crowd surged toward the Plaze San Martin, were it was addressed by various speakers.
Reforming its ranks the crowd later marched to the German consulate where is stoned windows in protest. Police arriving in trucks peacefully managed to get the crowd to disperse.
Stevedores did not work for two hours on the two vessels at Callao, the German Ammon and the Norwegian Remulus, as an act of protest, while various hundreds paraded in the streets there protesting and voicing their indignation. The Police meanwhile guarded the German Consulate.
The Afternoon papers bitterly attacked the federation's decision in the editorials. One said :"It lacks basis as a reason, the Austrians' only pretext was to eliminate the team which had a good chance to win and thereby see its national flag wave from the scene of operations."
The whole press praises the gesture of the Latin American delegations in meeting in Berlin to support the Peruvians. All is quiet here now.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Differences in Demeanor
Never has Berlin seen so many polyglot visitors. Every hotel is crowded beyond normal capacity and all its best known restaurants spend most of the dinner hour turning them away because there are no more seats.
Conversation in Adlon Hall at Tea Hour is reminiscent of Babel, with English running German hard as the predominant tongue and the Polish, Czech and Scandinavian Languages drowning out the customary Continental French.
English beyond doubt if the Latin of the modern world. In the press box at the Olympic Stadium and at most of the information offices more English is spoken than German. Yet in comparison with the crowds of Scandinavians, who make up the largest part of the foreign contingent, relatively few Englishmen or American are here. The Scandinavians, however, seem to get along better in English than anything else.
Scandinavians in the stands have adopted American cheering tactics and shout "Rah! Rah! Rah!" in unison.
Anybody interested in his fellowmen has been able to get a kick out of noting the difference of these foreign visitors. There is a good deal of truth in a familiar story which purports to classify national characteristics under such circumstances.
The Frenchman enters a hotel looking around with a general air indicating he would like to own it.
The German walks in looking as though some day he expects to own it.
The Englishman strolls in as though he does indeed own it.
The American goes in with the general air which seems to say he doesn't give a damn who owns it.
Conversation in Adlon Hall at Tea Hour is reminiscent of Babel, with English running German hard as the predominant tongue and the Polish, Czech and Scandinavian Languages drowning out the customary Continental French.
English beyond doubt if the Latin of the modern world. In the press box at the Olympic Stadium and at most of the information offices more English is spoken than German. Yet in comparison with the crowds of Scandinavians, who make up the largest part of the foreign contingent, relatively few Englishmen or American are here. The Scandinavians, however, seem to get along better in English than anything else.
Scandinavians in the stands have adopted American cheering tactics and shout "Rah! Rah! Rah!" in unison.
Anybody interested in his fellowmen has been able to get a kick out of noting the difference of these foreign visitors. There is a good deal of truth in a familiar story which purports to classify national characteristics under such circumstances.
The Frenchman enters a hotel looking around with a general air indicating he would like to own it.
The German walks in looking as though some day he expects to own it.
The Englishman strolls in as though he does indeed own it.
The American goes in with the general air which seems to say he doesn't give a damn who owns it.
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
The Marathon and Women's Relay
Even the sun came out today for the climax of the 1936 Olympics today. Under a cloudless sky Summer sky, a record crowd gathered for the marathon, the most widely advertised Olympic event, and the relays - always full of uncertainty and thrills. To come down to it, the marathon was rather a disappointment from the spectators' seats simply because it could not be seen.
Only the grand finale, the reappearance of the first weary runner, is perhaps worth the price of a ticket. The first runner was not even weary. Kitei Son of Japan came jogging into the stadium as fresh as a daisy.
In the midst of all the gaiety, black despair settled on the generally vociferous German crowd.
The German women's relay team, the pride of the Fatherland, established a new world record for the 400-meter race yesterday, had been running again today in top form. The jubilant crowd sure of another gold medal and in high holday mood, was thrown down from its emotional pinnacle which it could not recover for the remainder of the afternoon.
A fast runner dropped the baton as it was being passed and the Germans had to drop out of the race. The Führer who was watching in his customary box, slapped his thigh in frustration. The girls proved they were after all, genuine women and not just feminine athletes by having hysterics on the field. With tears rolling down their cheeks there were taken up to Hitler's box, where he consoled them as best he could, assuring them he knew they would have won.
Apart from the question of whether they would have won, which can be disputed, they had the crowd with them. A bond of human sympathy with the four young people who had experienced the most atrocious bad luck united the more than 100,000 in attendance.
Only the grand finale, the reappearance of the first weary runner, is perhaps worth the price of a ticket. The first runner was not even weary. Kitei Son of Japan came jogging into the stadium as fresh as a daisy.
In the midst of all the gaiety, black despair settled on the generally vociferous German crowd.
The German women's relay team, the pride of the Fatherland, established a new world record for the 400-meter race yesterday, had been running again today in top form. The jubilant crowd sure of another gold medal and in high holday mood, was thrown down from its emotional pinnacle which it could not recover for the remainder of the afternoon.A fast runner dropped the baton as it was being passed and the Germans had to drop out of the race. The Führer who was watching in his customary box, slapped his thigh in frustration. The girls proved they were after all, genuine women and not just feminine athletes by having hysterics on the field. With tears rolling down their cheeks there were taken up to Hitler's box, where he consoled them as best he could, assuring them he knew they would have won.
Apart from the question of whether they would have won, which can be disputed, they had the crowd with them. A bond of human sympathy with the four young people who had experienced the most atrocious bad luck united the more than 100,000 in attendance.
Norway beat Germany 2-0
Gloom pervaded the German morning papers today over the event in the Post Stadium yesterday where in the presence of Chancellor Hitler, Germany's Soccer team lost to Norway, 2-0.
"How could this happen?" the sports press cries bewildered. Germany's hopes actually centered on winning the gold medal in this event. With the crack Uraguayan team out the competition, they figured themselves the Olympics' best. Norway, on the other hand, was figured as a minor contender.
So sure was Germany of victory that Hitler for the first time failed to appear in the Olympic Stadium. All German victor until now have told the German press in interviews that they thing only of the Führer when competing and outdo themselves when he's there to watch.
"How could this happen?" the sports press cries bewildered. Germany's hopes actually centered on winning the gold medal in this event. With the crack Uraguayan team out the competition, they figured themselves the Olympics' best. Norway, on the other hand, was figured as a minor contender.
So sure was Germany of victory that Hitler for the first time failed to appear in the Olympic Stadium. All German victor until now have told the German press in interviews that they thing only of the Führer when competing and outdo themselves when he's there to watch.
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Jews allowed to fly German Flag
Not since the Nuremburg Laws were passed last September have Jews been allowed to fly the German flag.. However, these Olympics have given them the opportunity to display banners of some kind over their houses and businesses.
The prohibition still holds but there is nothing to stop them from flying the German flag. They are glad to do so rather than draw attention to their shops and homes by leaving them bare in the streets otherwise plenteously adorned with bunting. One department store in the west end carried whole rows of the Olympic banners. Some others have added symposiums of flags of the Olympic nations all except the swastika - without objection.
The practice has the advantage, from the German viewpoint, of saving foreign guests the of puzzling over empty flagpoles until they divine the real reason and thereby reminded of the German official race prejudice.
The prohibition still holds but there is nothing to stop them from flying the German flag. They are glad to do so rather than draw attention to their shops and homes by leaving them bare in the streets otherwise plenteously adorned with bunting. One department store in the west end carried whole rows of the Olympic banners. Some others have added symposiums of flags of the Olympic nations all except the swastika - without objection.
The practice has the advantage, from the German viewpoint, of saving foreign guests the of puzzling over empty flagpoles until they divine the real reason and thereby reminded of the German official race prejudice.
Monday, August 7, 2006
Racism at the Games
The victories of the Negroes of the American Olympic team are the sensation of Europe. how thoroughly the Olympic spirit has spread here is seen in the fact that to date only the Nazi newspaper Angriff has spoken of them dispairingly, and only in the government box has there been other presumptive evidence of racial feeling.
of course, carious countries react in various ways. The French are loudly enthusiastic about the Negroes' accomplishments. The English, guided perhaps by imperial considerations, are somewhat cool and inclined to depreciate their presence. The South Africans openly deprecate it.
On the other hand, the German team is ostensibly friendly. Something like a Damon and Pythias friendship has sprung up between Lutz Long, German star and Jesse Owens, outstanding member of the American team.
What may be called the social success of the American Negroes largely is due to the their own tact. They are perfectly aware threre is a race prejudice in the air and they carefully avoid places where they might not be welcome.
It should be added, however, that since his defeat by John Woodruff, Mario Lanzi, sensational Italian middle distance runner, has introduced some racial feeling in the Italian team. Lanzi's final spurt in the 800-meter race two days ago was spoiled because the two Negro leaders, Phil Edwards of Canada and Woodruff, refused to yield him the inside lane. The Italian seems to be possessed by the idea he had a right to this lane, although there is nothing in the rules entitling him to it.
Enthusiasm for the Negro contingent centers mainly around Owens. None of the others enjoys anything approaching his popularity. The German press calls Owens the super-athlete of these Games. Long has expressed the view that with more training Owens could jump 7.5 meters easily.
In private conversation the Germans tell each other that the Negro race is extraordinarily adept at running because of a certain peculiar conformation of their bones. They do, however, have the good sense to scoff at English reports that American runners have undergone certain operations on their legs to increase their speed
of course, carious countries react in various ways. The French are loudly enthusiastic about the Negroes' accomplishments. The English, guided perhaps by imperial considerations, are somewhat cool and inclined to depreciate their presence. The South Africans openly deprecate it.
On the other hand, the German team is ostensibly friendly. Something like a Damon and Pythias friendship has sprung up between Lutz Long, German star and Jesse Owens, outstanding member of the American team.
What may be called the social success of the American Negroes largely is due to the their own tact. They are perfectly aware threre is a race prejudice in the air and they carefully avoid places where they might not be welcome.
It should be added, however, that since his defeat by John Woodruff, Mario Lanzi, sensational Italian middle distance runner, has introduced some racial feeling in the Italian team. Lanzi's final spurt in the 800-meter race two days ago was spoiled because the two Negro leaders, Phil Edwards of Canada and Woodruff, refused to yield him the inside lane. The Italian seems to be possessed by the idea he had a right to this lane, although there is nothing in the rules entitling him to it.
Enthusiasm for the Negro contingent centers mainly around Owens. None of the others enjoys anything approaching his popularity. The German press calls Owens the super-athlete of these Games. Long has expressed the view that with more training Owens could jump 7.5 meters easily.
In private conversation the Germans tell each other that the Negro race is extraordinarily adept at running because of a certain peculiar conformation of their bones. They do, however, have the good sense to scoff at English reports that American runners have undergone certain operations on their legs to increase their speed
Salvation Army in Berlin
The Salvation Army is not missing the opportunity to put on a campaign in Berlin. They are making a drive for funds from charitable Germans and foreign guests alike.
The Olympics are international and so is the Salvation Army. Germany is at least internationally minded until August 16th.
The Olympics are international and so is the Salvation Army. Germany is at least internationally minded until August 16th.
Eleanor Holm Jarrett isn't competing in Berlin?
Eleanor Holm Jarrett went for a sight-seeing stroll with a friend, met onetime Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor August Ernst at Netherlands Palace. Swimmer Jarrett reported that the onetime Crown Prince had sent her flowers. In New York, her husband, Crooner Art Jarrett, suddenly took ship for Germany.
The American Public and many sports fans worldwide would expect
Mrs. Jarrett to be in the Swimming Pool competing in the backstroke. She was suspended from the American team for setting a bad example in getting intoxicated while on the transatlantic voyage to Europe.
Mrs. Jarrett has said of her suspension, which came as a surprise to the Champion of the 1932 Los Angeles Games, this:
The American Public and many sports fans worldwide would expect
Mrs. Jarrett to be in the Swimming Pool competing in the backstroke. She was suspended from the American team for setting a bad example in getting intoxicated while on the transatlantic voyage to Europe.Mrs. Jarrett has said of her suspension, which came as a surprise to the Champion of the 1932 Los Angeles Games, this:
This chaperone came up to me and told me it was time to go to bed. God, it was about 9 o'clock, and who wanted to go down in that basement to sleep anyway? So I said to her: `Oh, is it really bedtime? Did you make the Olympic team or did I?' I had had a few glasses of Champagne. So she went to Brundage and complained that I was setting a bad example for the team, and they got together and told me the next morning that I was fired. I was heartbroken.Avery Brundage, the Team Leader, has not commented on this. Holm's Olympic teammates petitioned unsuccessfully to overturn the suspension.
Sunday, August 6, 2006
Owens wins third medal
By winning the 200-meter dash, Jesse Owens became the fourth American to capture three or more championships in on Olympic event.
He joined the heroic company of Alvin Kraenzlein, who won four events in 1900; Ray Ewry, who swept three standing jumps twice: 1900 & 1904.; and Archie Hahn, triple sprint winner in 1904.
Chancellor Hitler was driven from his box by a heavy downpour of rain that occurred just after Owens flashed across the finish line for his third triumph and wasn't among the thousands of die-hards who remained and thundered acclaim when he stepped up for the third time to be crowned with a laurel wreath and given his third gold medal and oak tree, which will be planted on Ohio State's Campus.
He joined the heroic company of Alvin Kraenzlein, who won four events in 1900; Ray Ewry, who swept three standing jumps twice: 1900 & 1904.; and Archie Hahn, triple sprint winner in 1904.
Chancellor Hitler was driven from his box by a heavy downpour of rain that occurred just after Owens flashed across the finish line for his third triumph and wasn't among the thousands of die-hards who remained and thundered acclaim when he stepped up for the third time to be crowned with a laurel wreath and given his third gold medal and oak tree, which will be planted on Ohio State's Campus.
Stephens wins Women's 100-meter dash
Miss Helen Stephens, after winning the 100-meter race for women yesterday, was received by Chancellor Hitler and congratulated on her success. Then she went back to the women discus throwers to her turn for the United States.
Miss Stephens had been in the discus competition before the start of the 100 meters. She just dropped out for a few minutes to win the gold medal in time just 1/10 of a second behind her world record established the day before.
Miss Stephens had been in the discus competition before the start of the 100 meters. She just dropped out for a few minutes to win the gold medal in time just 1/10 of a second behind her world record established the day before.
Military Guard adds to Olympic pageantry
There are three companies of the military guards marching around the Berlin streets daily during the Olympics. Normally, only Field Marshal Werner von Blomberg, as War Minister, rates a guard company for his military. It stages a parade with bands daily when the guards change.
But the procession down Unter den Linden has proved such an attraction to the crowd that two more guard changes now are put on for the satisfaction of the Olympic visitors.
The second of the three companies is a guard for the headquarters of the Berlin command which is at the foor of the Unter den Linden opposite the old imperial palace. The third id Colonel-General Hermann Göring's own gray-coated company for the Air Ministry, called the Luftwaffe here.
To see not only little boys but their daddies, rotund, solid burghers, all marching alongside the soldiers is to gain a little understanding of the Third Reich.
But the procession down Unter den Linden has proved such an attraction to the crowd that two more guard changes now are put on for the satisfaction of the Olympic visitors.
The second of the three companies is a guard for the headquarters of the Berlin command which is at the foor of the Unter den Linden opposite the old imperial palace. The third id Colonel-General Hermann Göring's own gray-coated company for the Air Ministry, called the Luftwaffe here.
To see not only little boys but their daddies, rotund, solid burghers, all marching alongside the soldiers is to gain a little understanding of the Third Reich.
Berlin Weather changes for the gloomy
Luck in the matter of the weather, which has been all on the side of the Nazis since they obtained power in Germany, seems to have failed them in these Olympics. Until now it has almost assured that for any big German fete day the weather would be ideal.
Only once in the last three years did the weather fail them. That was the memorable May Day last year when the snow flurries and a biting wind spoiled for more than a million persons at Tempelhof the effect of Hitler's speech. The labor demonstration by the masses on May Day was not so much emphasized this year.
But that was an exception. All the other big Nazi shows have had blue skies in the their favor until these Olympics, upon the success of which the régime sets so much store. Ever since they begain it has rained in Berlin daily after the fashion of April transposed to August.
Yet, even after that, the weather gods seem to have tried to be as kind as possible. Today, while it was raining heavily in the city so that hundreds were discouraged from going to the games, hardly a drop fell on the stadium before the games closed. in fact, wet weather has not greatly hampered the tests themselves.
Since the games began it has begun to rain with clocklike regularity a few minutes after 6 PM when the last major event was just over. It also rains regularly during the noon recess from 12 to 3.
The attendance keeps up just the same. On the first day of the games, 86 special trains arrived in Berlin with 52,000 passengers and 95,000 more passengers came on regular trains. The second day53 special trains brought 27,000 passengers and the regular trains, 91,000. Figures for later days are unavailable at this time, but it is quite certain the influx is keeping up, if it is not necessarily increasing.
Only once in the last three years did the weather fail them. That was the memorable May Day last year when the snow flurries and a biting wind spoiled for more than a million persons at Tempelhof the effect of Hitler's speech. The labor demonstration by the masses on May Day was not so much emphasized this year.
But that was an exception. All the other big Nazi shows have had blue skies in the their favor until these Olympics, upon the success of which the régime sets so much store. Ever since they begain it has rained in Berlin daily after the fashion of April transposed to August.
Yet, even after that, the weather gods seem to have tried to be as kind as possible. Today, while it was raining heavily in the city so that hundreds were discouraged from going to the games, hardly a drop fell on the stadium before the games closed. in fact, wet weather has not greatly hampered the tests themselves.
Since the games began it has begun to rain with clocklike regularity a few minutes after 6 PM when the last major event was just over. It also rains regularly during the noon recess from 12 to 3.
The attendance keeps up just the same. On the first day of the games, 86 special trains arrived in Berlin with 52,000 passengers and 95,000 more passengers came on regular trains. The second day53 special trains brought 27,000 passengers and the regular trains, 91,000. Figures for later days are unavailable at this time, but it is quite certain the influx is keeping up, if it is not necessarily increasing.
Saturday, August 5, 2006
Television
Television halls accommodating 3,000 have been opened throughout Berlin where one may view the Olympic Games. Unfortunately, the results are very close to zero.
You cannot see Olympics by television yet. All that you can are some men dressed like athletes but only faintly distinguishable, like humans floating in a milk bath. Only the polo games show up fairly clearly when black or chestnut ponies are used. All white objects are divined, rather than seen, as vague blurs in a milky mess.
There are three television "guns" on the Olympic Field and two television vans covering events outside the stadium. Witleben station sends the pictures by the two transmitters to eighteen separate halls and rooms. The largest holds 300 spectators, but television is not yet sufficiently developed to handle successfully such a difficult project as covering the Olympics.
Athletes who stay in the Olympic Village because the y have competitions scheduled for the following day get a chance - for what it's worth - to see the games via television, for a special theatre has been set up for them in Hindenburg Assembly Hall.
Radio is till the most reliable transmitter of Olympic results. Twenty transmitting vans are put at the disposal of the foreign media along with 300 microphones. Radio broadcasts at the Olympics are given in 28 different languages.
You cannot see Olympics by television yet. All that you can are some men dressed like athletes but only faintly distinguishable, like humans floating in a milk bath. Only the polo games show up fairly clearly when black or chestnut ponies are used. All white objects are divined, rather than seen, as vague blurs in a milky mess.
There are three television "guns" on the Olympic Field and two television vans covering events outside the stadium. Witleben station sends the pictures by the two transmitters to eighteen separate halls and rooms. The largest holds 300 spectators, but television is not yet sufficiently developed to handle successfully such a difficult project as covering the Olympics.
Athletes who stay in the Olympic Village because the y have competitions scheduled for the following day get a chance - for what it's worth - to see the games via television, for a special theatre has been set up for them in Hindenburg Assembly Hall.
Radio is till the most reliable transmitter of Olympic results. Twenty transmitting vans are put at the disposal of the foreign media along with 300 microphones. Radio broadcasts at the Olympics are given in 28 different languages.
Control & language at the Games
The Olympic Organization Committee has announced that the results of the games cannot continue to be broadcast in three languages because it would take so much time that the broadcasters would be going all the time and spoil the show.
On the whole this is rather lucky. It was tried yesterday in the stadium, but the Americans found they understood German better than the variety of English used by the announcer.
The real control of the games is in the hands of the so-called International Olympic Committee. This body is composed of five noblemen and only two commoners. European aristocracy always has had a stranglehold on the Olympics as they were founded by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. The five all-powerful aristocrats here today are Count Henri de Baillet-Latour of Belgium, Baron Godefrey de Bloney of Switzerland, the Marquis de Polignac of France, Lord Aberdare of England and Count Bonaccosa of Italy.
The list of seventy-one members of the International Committee as a whole is rich with the names of titled sportsmen form all nations are preceded by Excellence or General.
On the whole this is rather lucky. It was tried yesterday in the stadium, but the Americans found they understood German better than the variety of English used by the announcer.
The real control of the games is in the hands of the so-called International Olympic Committee. This body is composed of five noblemen and only two commoners. European aristocracy always has had a stranglehold on the Olympics as they were founded by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. The five all-powerful aristocrats here today are Count Henri de Baillet-Latour of Belgium, Baron Godefrey de Bloney of Switzerland, the Marquis de Polignac of France, Lord Aberdare of England and Count Bonaccosa of Italy.
The list of seventy-one members of the International Committee as a whole is rich with the names of titled sportsmen form all nations are preceded by Excellence or General.
Owens wins Broad Jump
The Broad Jump had been one of the events of Owens' three in this eleventh Olympics that he had been most certain of winning. Lutz Long, so unheralded in German sporting circles for he is neither a soldier nor a policeman, tied Owens at 7.87 meters with his two leaps remaining. He forced Owens to catapult out near his own new world record of 26' 8 ½" in order to emerge victorious at all yesterday.
So delighted was Chancellor Hitler by the gallant fight that Long had made that he congratulated him privately just before he himself left the stadium. In fact, his eagerness to receive the youthful German was so great that the Führer condescended to wait until his emissaries had pried Long loose from Owens, with whom he was affectionately walking along the track arm and arm in what could be called friendship. All Owens received was his gold medal which probably satisfied him just fine.
The broad jump was one of the most dramatic events of the entire day, surprising as that may sound. It started with the unusual flourish and ended the same way. In the morning the leapers had to beat 23' 5" to qualify.
Owens strolled over to the runway and, still in his pullovers, raced to the pit and tan right through, a customary warm-up gesture. But the red flag was raised greatly to the Buckeye Bullet's astonishment. That counted as one of three jumps. On his second try, which he made in earnest, Jesse hit the take-off board cleanly and sailed through the air. Again the red flag was waved for some mysterious reason.
The situation was getting to be alarming by this time. Owens had only one more jump left to stay in the competition. So, on his last attempt, he sprinted carefully, left the ground with a half foot clearance at the take-off and went past 25' safely.
In the afternoon, Owens had close call of that nature. The pressure came from Long. The German, carried along on the wings of superhuman endeavor - the hallmark of every Reich athlete in this meet - was bounding along right at Owens' heels. He was only an inch behind the American's 7.87 meters as they went for their last three jumps.
On his second in the final,
Long hit the nail exactly on the head, doing the same distance as the Ohioan and tying him for the championship as the crowd went into frenzied ecstasy of applause. But the jubilation was short-lived.
Owens came thundering down the runway and drove into space a moment later. He had taken the play away at 7.94 meters and then drove beyond Long's reach with his final jump that cemented the distinction of his becoming the first 26-footer in Olympic history. Incidentally, the German in second place also surpassed the Olympic record.
So delighted was Chancellor Hitler by the gallant fight that Long had made that he congratulated him privately just before he himself left the stadium. In fact, his eagerness to receive the youthful German was so great that the Führer condescended to wait until his emissaries had pried Long loose from Owens, with whom he was affectionately walking along the track arm and arm in what could be called friendship. All Owens received was his gold medal which probably satisfied him just fine.The broad jump was one of the most dramatic events of the entire day, surprising as that may sound. It started with the unusual flourish and ended the same way. In the morning the leapers had to beat 23' 5" to qualify.
Owens strolled over to the runway and, still in his pullovers, raced to the pit and tan right through, a customary warm-up gesture. But the red flag was raised greatly to the Buckeye Bullet's astonishment. That counted as one of three jumps. On his second try, which he made in earnest, Jesse hit the take-off board cleanly and sailed through the air. Again the red flag was waved for some mysterious reason.
The situation was getting to be alarming by this time. Owens had only one more jump left to stay in the competition. So, on his last attempt, he sprinted carefully, left the ground with a half foot clearance at the take-off and went past 25' safely.
In the afternoon, Owens had close call of that nature. The pressure came from Long. The German, carried along on the wings of superhuman endeavor - the hallmark of every Reich athlete in this meet - was bounding along right at Owens' heels. He was only an inch behind the American's 7.87 meters as they went for their last three jumps.
On his second in the final,
Long hit the nail exactly on the head, doing the same distance as the Ohioan and tying him for the championship as the crowd went into frenzied ecstasy of applause. But the jubilation was short-lived.Owens came thundering down the runway and drove into space a moment later. He had taken the play away at 7.94 meters and then drove beyond Long's reach with his final jump that cemented the distinction of his becoming the first 26-footer in Olympic history. Incidentally, the German in second place also surpassed the Olympic record.
Friday, August 4, 2006
Big Medal Haul for US
The United States stole away what to date had been a distinctly German show by winning four out of five medal events today. On the third day, a crowd of 90,000 gathered for the morning preliminaries, and once again another capacity throng of 110,ooo later packed the Reich Sports Field Stadium. They came to cheer for mare German victories, but remained instead to turn their hosannas in the direction of the Americans.
The invincible Jesse Owens of Ohio won the broad jump at the Olympic record distance of 8.06 meters (26' 5 21/64"). Miss Stephens walked off with the Women's 100-meter dash final in world record time. Glenn Hardin slammed to the victory in the 400-meter hurdles, and John woodruff, a freshman from the University of Pittsburgh, gave America its first 800-meter triumph in twenty-four years.
Topping the achievement of the Star-Spangled Brigade, Owens twice broke the world 200-meter mark around the turn, as well as the Olympic standard, hitting the identical figures of 21.1 seconds in both trials.
The only championship to evade the Americans' grasp was the women's discus crown. And that went to Germany as Miss Gisela Mauermayer broke the Olympic record with a toss of 47.63 meters amid the exuberant shouts of her compatriots.
But Germany's share in the harvest was a relatively minor one. The United States closed so far ahead in the race for men's track and field championship that every one else is lapped at least a full circuit beyond.
The invincible Jesse Owens of Ohio won the broad jump at the Olympic record distance of 8.06 meters (26' 5 21/64"). Miss Stephens walked off with the Women's 100-meter dash final in world record time. Glenn Hardin slammed to the victory in the 400-meter hurdles, and John woodruff, a freshman from the University of Pittsburgh, gave America its first 800-meter triumph in twenty-four years.
Topping the achievement of the Star-Spangled Brigade, Owens twice broke the world 200-meter mark around the turn, as well as the Olympic standard, hitting the identical figures of 21.1 seconds in both trials.
The only championship to evade the Americans' grasp was the women's discus crown. And that went to Germany as Miss Gisela Mauermayer broke the Olympic record with a toss of 47.63 meters amid the exuberant shouts of her compatriots.
But Germany's share in the harvest was a relatively minor one. The United States closed so far ahead in the race for men's track and field championship that every one else is lapped at least a full circuit beyond.
Americans go 1-2 in 100-Meter dash
Jesse Owens won the 100-meter dash in what seemed a date with destiny. The Buckeye Bullet beat his nearest competitor, Ralph Metcalfe of Marquette University, by a single yard. The winning time of 10.3 seconds matched his time in the first round of heats.
The Americans finished 1-2 in front of 110,000 in the Reich Sports Field Stadium. The ovation they received was loud but only a whisper compared to the cheer that Karl Hein of Germany received.
Hardly a minute after Hitler had seated himself in his box, Erwin Blask of Germany unleashed a tremendous toss of 180' 6 ½", breaking Matt McGrath's Olympic Record. Hein, however, overhauled Blask with the best any Continental hammer-thrower ever has made: 185' 4 1/16" to give Germany its own 1-2 finish. The tumultuous applause was the loudest of the day.
The record breaking did not finsh with these two finals. Miss Helen Stephens of St. Louis Missouri, striding through the first heat of the women's 100-meter sprint turned in a dazzling 11.4 second run.
This was 4/10 of a second faster than Miss Stella Walsh's listed world record and 2/10 under the Missouri girl's own American record, which has yet to be accepted internationally.
To make it more emphatic, Miss Stephens slammed into the tape of the semi-final in 11.5 seconds. Miss Kaethe Krauss of Germany, in second place was carried along sufficiently by Miss Stephens' blinding speed to equal Miss Walsh's Olympic figure of 11.9 seconds.
It was a great day for sport as the United States took command of the men's track and field race for the first time with a total of 46 points to 31 ¼ for Germany and Finland's 30 ¼ points. But if one elects to score the women's tests with the men's than Germany, moving along the wings of a sport renaissance deeply rooted in nationalistic fervor, is at the head of the parade with 47 ¼ points.
German nationalism and the prejudice that seems to go with it revealed themselves somewhat disagreeably this afternoon. On the surface all was serene. The Führer apparently played no favorite. He did not publicly receive the winning Germans nor did he decide to greet decidedly non-Aryan Americans, Owens and Metcalfe.
But an investigation by some who had taken his departure yesterday to mean he did not want to shake hands with non-Aryan high jumpers, Cornelius Johnson and David Albritton. This investigation produced information which seemed collaborative. In the seclusion of his quarters under the stands the Reich's dictator did congratulate Hein and Blask, the hammer-throwers. Perhaps two and two makes four after all. If Hitler is going to avoid the African-Americans, he is going to have his work cut out for him.
From a general sporting standpoint, however, there could be no taking the play away from Owens. He left the stadium last night in the belief that he had broken the world record with his 10.2 time. But the usually efficient Germans have an annoying roundabout way of getting the news to the newspaper men and the athletes.
It was discovered this morning that Owen's new mark had been disallowed because of a following wind. Whether he or Miss Stephens will have the same experience tomorrow cannot be guessed. From the stands the breeze looked like a crosswind, but one can never tell about those things.
Owens won today because in truth he is the world's fastest human. No one ever ran a more perfect race. His start was perfect, his in-between running was perfect and his finish perfect.
The Buckeye Bullet ripped out of his starting holes as though slungby a giant catapult. He was ahead in his first stride and let the Osendarp and Wykoff battle behind him for what left of the race.
Metcalfe, hardly the best starter in the world, was off in atrocious fashion. He was sixth in the six man field in the getaway, but once in his stride he certainly moved. By sixty meters he had drawn up even with Hollander and begun to cut down the two yard advantage Owens had on him.
It was then a speed duel between the streamlined express and the old-fashioned steam engine that exuded sheer, rugged power. Metcalfe cut those two yards to one at the wire, but it was as close as he could get, losing by a yard a championship that had eluded him four years before by a hair.
The Americans finished 1-2 in front of 110,000 in the Reich Sports Field Stadium. The ovation they received was loud but only a whisper compared to the cheer that Karl Hein of Germany received.
Hardly a minute after Hitler had seated himself in his box, Erwin Blask of Germany unleashed a tremendous toss of 180' 6 ½", breaking Matt McGrath's Olympic Record. Hein, however, overhauled Blask with the best any Continental hammer-thrower ever has made: 185' 4 1/16" to give Germany its own 1-2 finish. The tumultuous applause was the loudest of the day.
The record breaking did not finsh with these two finals. Miss Helen Stephens of St. Louis Missouri, striding through the first heat of the women's 100-meter sprint turned in a dazzling 11.4 second run.
This was 4/10 of a second faster than Miss Stella Walsh's listed world record and 2/10 under the Missouri girl's own American record, which has yet to be accepted internationally.
To make it more emphatic, Miss Stephens slammed into the tape of the semi-final in 11.5 seconds. Miss Kaethe Krauss of Germany, in second place was carried along sufficiently by Miss Stephens' blinding speed to equal Miss Walsh's Olympic figure of 11.9 seconds.
It was a great day for sport as the United States took command of the men's track and field race for the first time with a total of 46 points to 31 ¼ for Germany and Finland's 30 ¼ points. But if one elects to score the women's tests with the men's than Germany, moving along the wings of a sport renaissance deeply rooted in nationalistic fervor, is at the head of the parade with 47 ¼ points.
German nationalism and the prejudice that seems to go with it revealed themselves somewhat disagreeably this afternoon. On the surface all was serene. The Führer apparently played no favorite. He did not publicly receive the winning Germans nor did he decide to greet decidedly non-Aryan Americans, Owens and Metcalfe.
But an investigation by some who had taken his departure yesterday to mean he did not want to shake hands with non-Aryan high jumpers, Cornelius Johnson and David Albritton. This investigation produced information which seemed collaborative. In the seclusion of his quarters under the stands the Reich's dictator did congratulate Hein and Blask, the hammer-throwers. Perhaps two and two makes four after all. If Hitler is going to avoid the African-Americans, he is going to have his work cut out for him.
From a general sporting standpoint, however, there could be no taking the play away from Owens. He left the stadium last night in the belief that he had broken the world record with his 10.2 time. But the usually efficient Germans have an annoying roundabout way of getting the news to the newspaper men and the athletes.
It was discovered this morning that Owen's new mark had been disallowed because of a following wind. Whether he or Miss Stephens will have the same experience tomorrow cannot be guessed. From the stands the breeze looked like a crosswind, but one can never tell about those things.
Owens won today because in truth he is the world's fastest human. No one ever ran a more perfect race. His start was perfect, his in-between running was perfect and his finish perfect.
The Buckeye Bullet ripped out of his starting holes as though slungby a giant catapult. He was ahead in his first stride and let the Osendarp and Wykoff battle behind him for what left of the race.
Metcalfe, hardly the best starter in the world, was off in atrocious fashion. He was sixth in the six man field in the getaway, but once in his stride he certainly moved. By sixty meters he had drawn up even with Hollander and begun to cut down the two yard advantage Owens had on him.
It was then a speed duel between the streamlined express and the old-fashioned steam engine that exuded sheer, rugged power. Metcalfe cut those two yards to one at the wire, but it was as close as he could get, losing by a yard a championship that had eluded him four years before by a hair.
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Jesse Owens breaks records
Jesse Owens of Ohio is one very good runner. Here in Berlin, he is just beginning to show how good he is to the rest of the world.
During the well-attended first round heats for the 100 meter dash, he managed to break the Olympic record with a of 10.3 seconds. Then, in the afternoon he broke his own record with a 10.2 second showing. Victory for him tomorrow in the final seems to be merely his for the asking.
In the first round, the only runner who threatened was Osendarp of the Netherlands at 10.5 seconds. Then in the quarter-finals Strandberg of Sweden outsprinted the Netherlander with Wykoff placing third.
Some of the stars who were expected to do well have been eliminated. Yoshopka of Japan, Grimbeck and Theunissen of South Africa Berger of the Netherlands and Fondevilla of Argentina have all been close to the world record mark this year but did not make the final cut.
During the well-attended first round heats for the 100 meter dash, he managed to break the Olympic record with a of 10.3 seconds. Then, in the afternoon he broke his own record with a 10.2 second showing. Victory for him tomorrow in the final seems to be merely his for the asking.
In the first round, the only runner who threatened was Osendarp of the Netherlands at 10.5 seconds. Then in the quarter-finals Strandberg of Sweden outsprinted the Netherlander with Wykoff placing third.
Some of the stars who were expected to do well have been eliminated. Yoshopka of Japan, Grimbeck and Theunissen of South Africa Berger of the Netherlands and Fondevilla of Argentina have all been close to the world record mark this year but did not make the final cut.
Hitler receives Olympians; snubs Americans
Miss Hilde (Tilly) Fleischer won the women's javelin throw and also broke the Olympic record. For once Germany's cup of joy was filled to overflowing.
The crowd was off to a good start in its applause of the Reich athletes when Miss Fleischer winged out the javelin on her first throw. And when she climbed to the victory pedestal she stood with arms outstretched in the Nazi salute to Hitler, tears in her eyes and a lump in her throat. To her went the distinction of being the first Olympic champion of 1936.
Chancellor Hitler himself witnessed the victories. With a group of State officials and National Socialist party leaders, including Julius Streicher, he spent the afternoon watching the games. He greeted the victors with a warm handclasp and a friendly pat on the back, while the welkin rang with the frenzied cheers of the spectators.
Americans also had great results for the day. Just as the setting sun dipped behind the concrete ramparts of the huge stadium America came in for her share of the glory. Cornelius Johnson, the kangaroo-legged Negro from California, won the high jump and in keeping with the general trend of things shattered the Olympic record too. This event was a slam for the United States, because Ave Albritton, Ohio State Negro, and Delos Thurber of Southern California took the other two medals.
But for politically minded persons in the crowd there was one rather disquieting incident connected with the march of these three Americans to the victory pedestal. The Führer had greeted all three medalists in other events -- the Germans and the Finns -- with a handclasp and words of congratulation. But five minutes before the United States jumpers moved in for the ceremony of the Olympic triumph Hitler left his box.
Johnson and Albritton are Negroes. None of the others were. Press box interpreters of this step chose to put two and two together. But there will be enough future Negro winners to warrant delaying passing judgment for the present.
- NYT
The crowd was off to a good start in its applause of the Reich athletes when Miss Fleischer winged out the javelin on her first throw. And when she climbed to the victory pedestal she stood with arms outstretched in the Nazi salute to Hitler, tears in her eyes and a lump in her throat. To her went the distinction of being the first Olympic champion of 1936.
Chancellor Hitler himself witnessed the victories. With a group of State officials and National Socialist party leaders, including Julius Streicher, he spent the afternoon watching the games. He greeted the victors with a warm handclasp and a friendly pat on the back, while the welkin rang with the frenzied cheers of the spectators.
Americans also had great results for the day. Just as the setting sun dipped behind the concrete ramparts of the huge stadium America came in for her share of the glory. Cornelius Johnson, the kangaroo-legged Negro from California, won the high jump and in keeping with the general trend of things shattered the Olympic record too. This event was a slam for the United States, because Ave Albritton, Ohio State Negro, and Delos Thurber of Southern California took the other two medals.
But for politically minded persons in the crowd there was one rather disquieting incident connected with the march of these three Americans to the victory pedestal. The Führer had greeted all three medalists in other events -- the Germans and the Finns -- with a handclasp and words of congratulation. But five minutes before the United States jumpers moved in for the ceremony of the Olympic triumph Hitler left his box.
Johnson and Albritton are Negroes. None of the others were. Press box interpreters of this step chose to put two and two together. But there will be enough future Negro winners to warrant delaying passing judgment for the present.
- NYT
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