Summer Olympics

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THE OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES OF THE SUMMER OLYMPICS AND TRIALS AS ATTENDEE OR VOLUNTEER

THE SUMMER OLYMPICS I ATTENDED

THEY SHALL DIVE AND THEY SHALL RUN, AND HURL THEIR LANCES IN THE SUN, IN THE SUN THAT IS YOUNG ONCE ONLY, TIME LET ME PLAY AND BE GOLDEN. Dylan Thomas

XIV SUMMER OLYMPICS LONDON ENGLAND (participant) 29 July to 14 August 1948

To see the report for the London Olympics, go to: "MY OLYMPICS"

XV SUMMER OLYMPICS HELSINKI FINLAND (participant) 19 July to 3 August 1952

To see the report for the Helsinki Olympics, go to: "MY OLYMPICS"

XVI SUMMER OLYMPICS MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA 22 November to 8 December 1956

Although I was invited to take part in the trials for the Melbourne Olympics, it never came to it, because I had to leave my beloved Buenos Aires, because when I still was playing in second division of River Plate, the first and second division won the year 1947 championship and we were invited by the President of Argentina, General Juan Peron and his wife Evita, to a luncheon at the "Casa Rosada", the Argentine Government Palace and all players of our club were offered membership in the Peron Party, more as an honor as political. And when he was ousted and had to flee the country and the Secret Police started looking for anyone that had their name in their membership records and when they were looking for me, I also had to leave Argentina, even so I have never been involved in politics. I took the train to La Paz, Bolivia and when I got there, went to the US Embassy asking for political asylum and got a visa to the United States. All I could do when I got to the USA was to call COA and tell them what had happened and they decided to send me my accreditation and join the Argentine Olympic team in Melbourne to live and eat with them in the Olympic athlete's village and march with the team in the two ceremonies. Buenos Aires was also bidding for the 1956 Summer Olympics and lost by one single vote only, which Melbourne won on the final CIO vote and getting the games. and I have been invited for the third time to enter the Olympic Trials for the 1956 Olympics and represent Argentina and had a better running time than two of the sprinters they sent. But my Olympics, as well as my wonderful football career was over, since football, which they call soccer in the USA, was not popular in 1955, but only baseball and their football.

The Australian people in Melbourne and the 1956 Olympics were great. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies although simple and without the grand spectacles that are popular now is only entertainment and really have nothing to do with sport as it used to be before Samaranch and has nothing to do with sport, nor what Baron Pierre de Coubertain had in mind, and so were not part of the ancient Olympics, which were religious festivals, but not entertainment. The Melbourne Opening and Closing Ceremonies were strictly Olympic like the Berlin, London and Helsinki games, with the Melbourne Cricket Ground used as the Olympic Stadium. After the 3,314 athletes took their places in front of the Honor Tribune, IOC President Avery Brundage invited Prince Phillip to open the Melbourne Olympics, which he did with the same words as King George VI. did at the London Games The large Olympic Flag was brought in by 8 Australian athletes while the Melbourne Symphony and Chorus performed the Olympic Hymn, and Olympian Ron Clarke, the last torchbearer came in with the flaming torch, circled the stadium and lit the Olympic Cauldron. The Athlete's Oath was taken by John Landy, a 1500 meter runner, with these words: "In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our countries" and was followed by the Australian National Anthem. Pigeons were released, cannons sounded, red, white and blue balloons filled the air, with which the Opening Ceremony was ending while we slowly left the stadium.

Athletes that stood out were Betty Cuthbert an 18 year old girl from Sydney who won the 100 and 200 meter sprints and run a great final leg of the 4X100 meter relay to win her third gold medal. Australia was also superb in swimming winning 8 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze medals with outstanding performances by Murray Rose and Dawn Fraser. Pat Mc Cormick and Bob Clotworthy won the men's springboard, diving for the USA, while Gary Tobian faced bad judging and lost to Mexico. U S men dominated the track and field events, winning 15 of 24 events, sweeping four of them. Bobby J. Morrow won gold in the 100 and 200 m sprints and helped USA win the 4x100 Relay, to get his third gold medal. Vladimir Kuts of the USSR won the 5,000 and 10,000 meter race. Laszlo Papp, HUN, won his third gold in boxing. Hungary won water polo in a very bloody fight against USSR, winning 4:0 with Police intervention. in football USSR Gold, Bulgaria Silver. The Decathlon was won by Milt Campbell USA and the Marathon by Alain Mimoun FRA.

The Closing Ceremony started with the athletes coming into the stadium together instead of with their teams, which was a new arrangement while cannons were firing. Then Flag bearers of participating nations circled the speakers platform and the two Organizing Presidents thanked the athletes for coming to Melbourne. President Avery Brundage invited the Mayor of Rome who will host the next Summer Olympics, to the speakers podium to give him the IOC Flag held for the last four years by Melbourne. The public attending the Closing Ceremony received a paper, at the entrance, with a special new wording of the Waltzing Matilda song into this beautiful Native-Australian-Irish song for the Athletes, called "A GOOD BY TO A LOVED ONE & TO GOOD FRIENDS, changed for the Olympian Athletes and as we left the beautiful Cricket Grounds Stadium, a chorus of students and the public was singing it, by using the Waltzing Matilda melody for it's purpose.

"HOMEWARD, HOMEWARD, SOON YOU WILL BE GOING NOW, MOMOK WORARGO ORA GO-YAI,- JOY OF OUR MEETING, PAIN OF OUR PARTING, SHINE IN OUR EYES, AS WE BID YOU GOODBYE,- GOODBYE OLYMPIANS, GOODBYE OLYMPIANS, ON COMES THE EVENING, WEST GOES THE DAY,- ROLL UP YOUR SWAGS AND PACK THEM FULL OF MEMORIES,- FAIR BE THE WIND AS YOU SPEED ON YOUR WAY. WILL YE NO COME BACK AGAIN. WILL YE NO' COME BACK AGAIN,- BETTER LOU'D YE CANNA BE,- WILL YE NO' COME BACK AGAIN.

In early 1955 a military revolution broke out in Argentina against the Peron Government with Peron fleeing by boat first to Central America and later to Spain. Five years earlier I and my club members were given honorary membership after an invitation to a luncheon at the presidential palace and our names were detected and secret agents were looking for me and if taken to the Police Department, my life was in danger and so I decided to leave my Football and Olympic trophies, all pictures and memorabilia with my best friend, and decided to take the train to La Paz, Bolivia, went to the American Embassy to apply for a visa to the USA. Of course I lost my status as a player for River Plate and also my chances to qualify for my third Olympics and participate in the trials of Melbourne 1956, for which I surely would have qualified, as I was in top shape from playing football and running the same times as before. All I could do is call River Plate, COA, some of my friends and my girlfriend and leave. When I became US citizen and went back after six years, my friend and his beautiful young wife, and also an attorney, were not alive anymore and their parents were still looking for them, walking around at the Plaza de Mayo in front of the presidential palace with their pictures and other parents.

THE SUMMER OLYMPICS OF ROME ITALY 25 August to 11 September 1960

Having received my accreditation from COA again, I closed my haberdashery business in San Francisco and took time off for the 1960 Olympics, arriving in Rome on 22 August and taking one of the athlete's buses to the Olympic Village located on Via Flaminia across the bridge of the Tiber where the Olympic Stadium was located at the Foro Italico. There were also two smaller stadiums near the Olympic Village, the Stadio Flaminio, being the official Football stadium and the Palazzetto dello Sport, which was used for indoor sports; fencing, boxing, wrestling and other sports. I was staying again with the Argentine team and marched with the delegation at the ceremonies. The Olympic Village had every facility you may have wanted and the restaurant and nearby dance hall a good place to meet, which was always very busy. I still knew some of the coaches and officials from the last Olympics, and only the athletes were mostly not the same ones that I knew from before anymore.

The Opening Ceremony was nice, but not as extravagant a spectacle like the ones now. Beginning with music and us entering the Olympic Stadium through the Marathon gate to march around the track, lining up in front of the honor tribune, 84 nations came with 5,338 athletes, about 4,700 men and 600 women. The Argentine delegation had 91 Athletes, all men, and not a single women, something that has not happened before since 1924 and never happened again. Also the results of the Argentine Team was still very meager because of the bad political situation in Argentina and because of the the football strike, no team was sent again, like the last games in Melbourne. Argentina did not even win one single gold medal, something that had not happen at any Olympics before. Organizing President Giulio Andreotti welcomed all athletes and thanked them for coming. Then CIO President Avery Brundage did the same and asked the President of Italy Giovanni Groncho to open the games of the XVII. Summer Olympics, which he did with a great ovation. After that 1000s of pigeons were released, and the large Olympic Flag was brought in by eight Olympians while the Rome Symphony Orchestra and Opera chorus was performing the original Olympic Hymn while the last torchbearer, Olympian Giancarlo Peris entered the stadium and after circling the track, lit the Olympic Cauldron under a tremendous applause and ovation. Then the Olympic Oath was given by the Olympian athlete Adolfo Consolini, after which the 1960 Rome Opening Ceremony, and the release of thousands of pigeons, came to an end, and we left the stadium.

Americans did not win the 100 and 200 meter sprints, nor 4X100 m relay, Armin Hary 100m GER, Livio Berrutti 200m ITA and the 4x100 relay was won by GER. USA won the 400 m, 4X400 and 110 and 400 m hurdles. Also Long Jump Ralph Boston, Discus Al Oerter, Shot Put Bill Nieder, Pole Vault Don Bragg, Boxing Cassius Clay, Decathlon Rafer Johnson, Women: Wilma Rudolf, after having Polio, 3 Gold Medals in 100 and 200 meter and 4X100 relay. Argentina won no medals. Other outstanding performances were by the USSR, 800 meter, High Jump, 20 km walk, 10,000 m. Women: 80 m hurdles and 15 of 16 medals in Gymnastics. Australia: Peter Snell 800 m, Herb Elliott 1500m, Murray Halberg 5,000 m NZL, Aladar Gerevich HUN, his 6th gold medal in fencing, Abebe Bikila ETH won the Marathon barefoot, Yugoslavia won gold in football against Denmark who won silver and Hungary bronze. Hockey: Pakistan gold, India silver, 50 km walk, GB gold.

The Closing Ceremony was again in full camaraderie like in Melbourne. After the cannon shots all the athletes marched together into the stadium and we danced and frolicked until we were told to seek our teams. The flag bearers of the teams were asked to line up with their national flags in front of the speaker's podium and on the center of the three tall flag poles the Greek Flag was hoisted while the orchestra performed the Greek National Anthem in honor of the Ancient Olympics. Then the Italian flag was hoisted with the National Anthem playing, while most Italians in the stadium sang the words. Last came the flag and National Anthem of Japan where the next Olympics will be taking place in Tokyo. Thousands colored balloons were released, which was followed by a wonderful display of fireworks on the by now darkened sky. Finally, Organizing Committee President Giulio Andreotti thanked the athletes for coming and for the wonderful performance of sports and last, CIO President Avery Brundage thanked all the athletes for coming and inviting them to the next Olympic Games in Tokyo in four years. Then he declared the XVII. Olympic Games of 1960 Rome as closed and while the Olympic Flame slowly went out among quite a few shiny eyes that wanted more of the same, all the Olympians slowly left the beautiful stadium at the Foro Romano together, and finding all our waiting delegations.

XVIII SUMMER OLYMPICS TOKYO JAPAN, 10 to 24 OCTOBER 1964

Again, having received Argentine accreditation from COA President Antonio Rodriguez, I flew to Tokyo, Japan, and their very busy capital, two days before the Opening Ceremony, arriving at the busy airport, the afternoon of 8 October 1964. Antonio Rodriguez and I were team members at the 1948 London Olympics, he in rowing. and I in the sprints and have always been friendly toward each other. I still remember being tired from the long flight from San Francisco when arriving at the very large airport, looking for one of the buses that took arriving athletes to the Olympic Village administration building to register and sign in and to get exact directions to the Argentine team quarters. The place of the Olympic Village, which they said was in the Ariake area was actually on Tokyo Bay and was used as the barracks for the American soldiers in World War II and was not as nice as in Melbourne and Rome. There was nobody there and since I had not eaten anything since the airplane food, I went to the cafeteria to have a snack while waiting for someone to show up. When I went back, a few athletes and the Chef de Mission, whom I still knew from Rome was there and they welcomed me and we all had a few rounds of Mate before we went to have dinner in the large dining hall, which had a large variety of any kind of food and good Argentine beef, which I could not get in the United States anymore. Next day I went downtown with the village bus and took a sightseeing tour of Tokyo, a huge spread out city with a busy downtown area with millions of neon signs and thousands of stores. Our Chef de Mission asked me again to march with the delegation and of course i said that I would be glad to do so.

On October 10 the bus took us to the Olympic Stadium, actually called the National Stadium for the Opening Ceremony of the XVIII. Olympics. This time our delegation consisted of 102 people, but only 6 women, one of which was Jeanette Campbell, a 1936 freestyle swimmer that won a silver medal at the Berlin Olympics, which was chosen as our flag bearer, besides her daughter Patricia Porter was part of the 6 women of our delegation. although we did not know if Patricia was going to swim for Argentina. The athletes of the 93 nations were now assembling outside the Marathon Gate, and as is usual, our delegation was one of the first ones to go inside. The stadium was full to capacity with over 60,000 people and so we marched around the stadium and took our indicated place in front of the honor tribune where Emperor Hirohito, Showa, acknowledged our presence with a slight bow of the head. The ceremony started with IOC President Avery Brundage, together accompanied by Organizing Committee President Daigoro Yasukawa walking to the speakers podium to welcome the athletes and thanking them for coming to Tokyo from far away places, and wishing them a lot of success in their sports. Tokyo. The IOC President then asked Emperor Hirohito to open the games, which he did, receiving a standing ovation from the public. And while thousands of white doves were being released, the large Olympic flag was carried by eight participating athletes into the stadium. While being hoisted, the Imperial Symphony Orchestra and Chorus was playing the Olympic Anthem, the last torchbearer Yashinori Sakai who was born in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, the day the Enola Gay, a B29 bomber. dropped the first Atomic bomb over Hiroshima. As he appeared in the stadium under a big applause and carried the flaming torch around the stadium track, and then went up to the 57 meter high Olympic Cauldron and lifting the Olympic Torch high up, lit it under a most grandiose applause and ovation. After that the flag bearers with the flags of all the participating nations, went to the speakers podium and Olympic athlete Takashi Ono took the Olympic Oath for all the athletes. When he finished, the Japanese National Hymn was performed by the orchestra with all the Japanese athletes singing and so did the public. There was a lot more music and dancing going on, especially composed by Yoji Koseki for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and several Japanese dance groups were performing native Japanese dances as thousands of pigeons were being released. Than there were fireworks and while thousands of balloons filled the sky, the 1964 Tokyo Opening Ceremony slowly ended, as the athletes were leaving the Olympic Stadium.

Athletic events started the next day with first day of eliminations of sprints and other running events and sports. The teams and athletes that stood out in Tokyo was Japan, winning gold in three Judo events and also gold in woman's Volleyball. Larissa Latynina USSR, won 2 gold medals in Gymnastics, and ending her Olympic career with 9 gold, 5 silver and 4 bonze medals. Australian swimmer Dawn Fraser won gold in the 100 meter freestyle for the third time in a row, matched by Vyajeslav Ivanov USSR in single scull rowing. Don Schollander USA won four golds in swimming, Bob Hayes USA won gold in the 100m sprints, Henry Carr won gold in the 200m sprints and 4x100m relay for the USA. In football Hungary won the Gold against Czechoslovakia's Silver, the Decathlon was won by Willi Holdorf GER. In women's 100m Wyonia Tyas USA Gold, 200m Edith Maguire USA Gold. Peter Snell NZL won Gold in 800 and 1500m races and Billy Mills USA, won Gold for the 10.000m race, being the first and last time for that event in US history and Bob Schul USA won Gold in the 5,000m. also rare. Joe Frazer, heavyweight boxer and future heavyweight champion of the world won the Gold Medal for the USA The Marathon Gold Medal was won the second time in a row, for the first time ever, by Abebe Bikila ETH, only this time he was running with shoes, and also entered his third Olympics of 1968 Mexico and could very likely have won it for a third time, but just before leaving was hit by a car during a training session in Adis Abeba.

The Closing Ceremony in the evening of 24 October 1964 started with us marching into the stadium with our teams as one big Olympic unit, among music composed by a local composer. After about one hour, the flag bearers of participating nations made a big circle around the speakers platform, President Daigoro Yasukawa and IOC President Avery Brundage thanked the athletes for coming, and inviting them to the next Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. The large Olympic flag is removed and carried away and the flags of Greece, Japan and Canada are being raised while the Japanese National Anthem is performed. The Mayor of Ciudad de Mexico then approached the podium and the Mayor of Tokyo handed the fancy IOC flag with fringes to the Mayor of Mexico City while Fanfares are sounding followed by the shots from four canons, while thousands of balloons are released and IOC President Brundage declares the games as finished, The Olympic flame is extinguished from the cauldron. The athletes are being gathered together and now are slowly leaving the Olympic Stadium.

XIX. SUMMER OLYMPICS CIUDAD DE MEXICO, MEXICO 12 to 27 OCTOBER 1968

In 1967 I still received my Argentine Olympic Accreditation as before and getting married the end of that year, I could take my wife as well to any of the next upcoming Olympics, but was not always able to march, eat and do the things with the Argentine Team as I was before and I will only write about the most important things and comment mainly on the sports I practiced when I participated in 1948 and 1952.

The high altitude of Mexico City at 7,500 feet, or 3,200 meters affected many athletes and visitors at the 1968 Olympics, on the other hand it was very helpful for the jumps and sprints because of the thin air and many new world records were bettered. As always, the Olympics started with the Opening Ceremony on December 10 with the 112 NOC Teams entering the stadium and lining up in front of the Honor Tribune. Then Organizing President Pedro Ramirez Vazquez accompanied by IOC President Avery Brundage welcomes the athletes and thanks them for coming to the Mexican Olympics, after which Avery Brundadge invited the President of Mexico Gustavo Diaz Ordaz to open the Olympic Games, he did with these words: "Declaro los Juegos de Mexico para celebrar la XIX Olympiada de la era moderna, como abierto!" Thousands of pigeons are released and the large Olympic Flag is brought in and is hoisted by eight Mexican athletes. While the National symphony orchestra and chorus performs the original Olympic Hymn, female Olympian Enriqueta Basilio enters the stadium with the Olympic Torch and after carrying it around the track, she goes up the long stair case and lights the flame of the torch to the Olympic Cauldron among a huge ovation, and Olympic athlete Pablo Lugo Garrido took the athlete's oath with the following words: "Juramos tomar parte en estos Juegos Olimpicos en leal competicion, respetando las reglas que los goviernan y el deaseo de participar en ellos con verdadero espirito deportivo, y para el honor de nuestro pais y la gloria al deporte". Orchestra and Chorus play the Mexican National Anthem and the Opening Ceremony is thus coming to the end.

Gold Medals Sprints:100 meters won by Jim Hines USA, 200 meters by Tommy Smith USA Gold and John Carlos USA Silver. Both raised their black gloved fists while the US National Anthem was played at the Medal Ceremony, for which they were banned for life from any Olympics forever. Also the 4X100 relay was won by the USA, the Marathon was won by Mamo Wolde ETH Gold, following Abebe Bikila's tradition. Al Oerter USA won his fourth consecutive Gold Medal in the Discus throw, Bob Beamon jumped an incredible 8.90 meters, or 55 centimeters further than the world record for Gold, a record that stood until 1991, and still stands as one of the Olympic records. Gymnast Vera Caslavska CZH, won four Gold medals, Football was played in Puebla, a city next to Jalisco, which is in the province Guadalajara and Ciudad de Mexico. Hungary won 4 goals to 3 against Bulgaria, in an outstanding effort by all the players, which resulted in a great match from both teams.

The Closing Ceremony started with the teams marching into the Olympic Stadium with the athletes from all the teams mixed, many in the colorful costumes of their country. Mariachi bands were playing and singing typical Mexican folklore, from towns and regions they all were originally coming from. They were professional dancing groups, as well as wonderful dancing by some of the athletes forming small groups. The flag bearers of all the participating nations, accompanied by the Mexican name bearers of their country were then forming a big ring around the speakers platform, and speeches by the two Presidents of the Organizing and IOC, as the Mexican National Anthem was performed with most Mexicans in the stadium chanting and then the large Olympic Flag was lowered and was carried out. Then the flags of Greece, Mexico and Germany, the site of the next Games was hoisted, and the corresponding National Anthems performed. IOC President Brundage handed the Mayor of Munich the Olympic Flag and made the usual farewell speech, and declared the games as closed while the Olympic Flame slowly became darker, an emotional moment for most of the athletes, officials, volunteers and the public that enjoyed two wonderful weeks. A great display of Fireworks followed with a lot more music and dancing and an hour later the athletes slowly left the stadium together with their new made friends, and joined their teams that were waiting for their athletes and were assembling and waiting outside the Marathon Gate.

XX. SUMMER OLYMPIAD MUNICH GERMANY, 26 AUGUST to 11 SEPTEMBER 1972

The Opening Ceremony on 26 August 1972 started after the 121 Olympic Teams came into the newly finished stadium, and after walking around the track, and lining up in front of the Honor Tribune, as Munich Organizing President Willi Daume and IOC President Avery Brundage stepped to the speakers podium and Willie Daume welcomed the athletes to Munich and thanked them for coming. Then IOC President Avery Brundage making about the same speech, invited German President Gustav Heinemann to open the Games, which he did with the same words as Adolf Hitler for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin: "Ich verkuende die Spiele von Muenchen, zur Feier der zwanzigsten Olympiade der neuen Zeitrechnung, als eroeffnet!" The large Olympic Flag is carried in by eight Olympians and the German Olympic Hymn is performed while the last Torchbearer, Olympian athlete Guenther Zahn enters the stadium with the Olympic torch and running around the stadium track, he lights the Olympic Cauldron with a large ovation. Then the flag bearers of the participating nations makes a circle around the speakers platform and Olympian Heidi Schueller takes the Athletes Oath with following words: " Wir geben unseren Eid an diesn Olympischen Sommer Spielen und gerechtlich teilzunehmen mit vollen Respekt zu den zeitigen Regeln, in treuer Verpflichtung zum Sport ohne Drogen und in voelliger Hingabe zur Sportlichkeit und Ruhm des Sportes und Ehre unserer Teams und Vaterlaender", which followes for the first time by the Officials and Judges Oath with these words: "Im Namen aller Richter und Offiziellen, verspreche ich dass wir ehrenhaft und voellig unparteiisch in diesen Olympischen Spielen regeln werden, und somit geben wir unseren Eid an diesen Olympischen Sommer Spielen gerechtlich teilzunehmen mit vollen Respekt zu den zeitigen Regeln und in wahrer Verpflichtung zur Ehre und Ruhmes der Sportlichkeit". The German National Anthem is performed by the Orchestra and a great performance of Fanfares performed with the release of thousands of pigeons and the athletes are slowly leaving the beautiful new Olympic Stadium and so the Opening Ceremony of the 1972 Munich Olympics comes to an end. Although the Olympics started with feelings of warm friendship among all, hopes for a nice Olympics vanished in midst of the competitions, as Palestinian PLO terrorists climbed a fence of the Olympic Village on 5 September 1972 entering the compound of the Israeli wrestling team, and within 24 hours murdered 11 Israeli athletes and coaches in the most barbaric crime of Olympics since they ever existed.

The sport activities were starting the next morning, 27 August with preliminary sprints and several other sport activities. Athletes that stood out most was Mark Spitz USA, winning unprecedented 7 Gold Medals in different swimming categories. In my sports, Valeri Borzov USSR, won gold in the 100 and 200 meter sprints, and was the last in the 4x100 meter relay. 400 meter winner was Vincent Matthews USA Gold and Wayne Collins USA, got the Silver, but both were banned for life from Olympics for insulting the United States while the National Anthem was played. Dave Wottle USA won Gold in the 800 meters and Lasse Viren FIN won Gold in 5,000 and 10,000 meter, even after falling down in the race and also won both in 1976 Montreal. The USA also won Gold in the 4x100 m relay. Frank Shorter USA Gold won the Marathon. He was born in Munich but was raised in the USA. Decathlon was won by Nicolai Avilov USSR and in Football, POL won the Gold Medals, with HUN Silver.

The Closing Ceremony started with a display of old Bavarian horse carriages, some of them very elegant from old royalty, each pulled by two horses, going around the stadium several times, which they certainly could not have done when the athletes had to run their races there. They played good old style Bavarian Um Pa Pa and marching band music typical only for Bavaria and Lower Austria, while the carriages kept circling the stadium track. with most of them dressing in uniforms and dresses from the 1800's The two big platforms were full with several orchestras performing all kind of Bavarian German and Austrian country music and marches and with some of the marching bands and dancing groups dressed in old and new country style dresses, it was quite a nice spectacle for the public as well as the performers to enjoy. After all the marching and noisy music, name bearers were walked into the stadium, followed by all the flag bearers with the national flags of all participating nations, lining up in front of the honor tribune and speakers platform followed by the Chefs the Mission, while the athletes which came in as one united team mixed from all 121 nations. When all athletes were settled Willi Daume and Avery Brundage came to the podium and Willi Daume asked for a 26 second silence in memory of the slain Israeli Athletes murdered by the Palestinian Terrorists, who spoiled the last days of the games. Then the large Olympic Flag is lowered and carried away by eight Olympians and flags from Greece, Germany and Canada are hoisted and respectively their National Anthems are performed by the Bavarian National Orchestra. Than Willi Daume thanks the athletes and volunteers for their performances, and calls for the Mayor of Munich and Montreal to come to the podium for the traditional transfer of the Olympic Flag. Then President Brundage thanks the athletes, inviting them to Montreal in four years. He makes a speech ending with the words: I'll try to extend the sportsmanship of the athletic field into other areas", which meaning I did not quite understand what he meant with it, just like some of his other things that did not make sense to me. He then declared the Munich Olympics as closed and the flame of the Olympic Cauldron got dark, which is always an emotional moment for anyone. Fireworks and balloons filled the sky and the music, dancing and marching went on for another hour, and when the teams were finished assembling, they and the musicians slowly emptied the Olympic Stadium.

XXI SUMMER OLYMPICS MONTREAL CANADA 17 JULY to 1 AUGUST 1976

The 1976 Montreal Opening Ceremony started with loud cheers from 73,000 spectators when Queen Elizabeth accompanied by Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Andrew and IOC President Lord Killanin entered the Olympic Stadium. While the Montreal Symphony Orchestra played the impressive "March of the Athletes" and then 94 participating delegations of over 10,000 athletes entered the stadium and lined up in front of the honor tribune with Greece traditionally entering first and the host delegation last. Name boards were in French and English and so were the speeches delivered by OCOG President Roger Rousseau and Lord Killanin, thanking the athletes for coming, who then invited Queen Elizabeth to open the games, which she did with the following words: "I declare the games of Montreal to celebrate the twenty first Olympiad of the modern era, as open".

Then the Olympic Anthem was performed by the Montreal Philharmonic orchestra and chorus, while the large Olympic Flag was brought in and hoisted by eight Olympians, while three cannons fired, to honor the Olympic Salute. Then 80 young maidens released hundred of pigeons, to commemorate the 80th birthday of the first Olympiad in Athens in 1896. After the pigeons were released, the Olympic Torch was carried for the first time, by two torchbearers to symbolize Canada's bilingual character. As bearers Sandra Henderson of Toronto and Stephane Prefontain of Montreal lit the Olympic Cauldron, placed in the center of the Olympic Stadium, under a great ovation. This time, the flame was not carried from Olympia as usual, but was electronically transmitted, but since than, as always before, the torch has been carried by only one torchbearer again. The Olympic Oath for Athletes was taken by weightlifter Pierre Saint-Jean and the oath for officials by one of the judges, and then the National Anthem was played under a roaring ovation, which was followed by the release of red, white blue balloons with a beautiful exhibit by professional dancers and when the ceremony came to an end, there was al kind of music, played by different bands. Then the athletes slowly left the Olympic Stadium under big ovation

Athletic events started next morning as usual. Athletes standing out in Montreal was 14 yr old Nadia Comaneci, RUM scoring seven perfect 10's and 3 gold medals. Nellie Kim also won three gold medals and four were won by Nikolai Andrianov of USSR in gymnastics. Victor Saneyev USSR won his third gold medal in the triple jump and Claude Dibiasi, ITALY, won three in platform diving. Juan Antorena, CUB won the 400 m and 800 m race and Lasse Viren FIN won in 5,000 and 10,000 m and was 5th in the marathon, trying to equal Emil Zatopek's 1952 achievement, but was not able. Five US boxers, Sugar Ray Leonard, Leon Spinks, Michael Spinks, Leo Randolph and Howard Davies Jr. won gold medals with the greatest Olympic Boxing Team the USA ever had. The E.GER Swimming Team won all the gold medals but two, Luanne Ryon USA won gold in woman's archery and Bruce Jenner USA won a gold medal in the decathlon with a world record achievement of 8,634 points. The Marathon was won by Waldemar Cierpinski, an unknown runner, who would repeat this deed in Moscow.

The Closing Ceremony of the 1976 Montreal Olympics ended on the evening of August 1st in the presence of the President of the IOC Lord Killanin and the Governor General of Canada Jules Leger. To sound of fanfares, 500 schoolgirls formed a huge rectangle on the central lawn and performed a beautiful choreographed routine and when finished, turned their cloaks inside out which formed the colors and rings of the Olympic Flag. Then to the sound of the March of the Athletes, a group of 75 Aboriginal Canadian Indians in full festive dress gear entering in arrowhead formation chanted and dancing to the beating of their drums, gave the setting for a most wonderful impression of the first people of Canada. And to underscore the brotherly unity of the Olympics, the athletes entered the stadium again without being grouped by nationalities, accompanied by over 500 Canadian Indians in their festive costumes and entered the five rings that were erected by the 500 schoolgirls, which also erected five Aboriginal tents inside the Olympic Rings. There was wonderful Indian music and dancing with the great coordination of their drumming, which was typical for this marvelous showing a typical Indian Paw Wow.

After the wonderful entertainment, IOC President Lord Killanin of Scotland thanked the athletes for attending the games and their participation. The exchange of the very fancy small Olympic Flag was then given to Lord Killanin by the Mayor of Montreal, who handed it then to the Mayor of Moscow where the next Summer games will take place in 1980. After that the large Olympic Flag is being lowered and carried away by eight Olympians the Olympic farewell song is being performed by the orchestra and chanted by a large chorus, And then Lotrd Killanin thanks the athletes for performing well and inviting them to the next Olympics in Moscow. The Olympic Flame goes out very slowly and with the last flicker at the Cauldron the games of 1976 Montreal are over. The giant screen announces the 1980 Olympics of Moscow and singers and dancers from Moscow are performing a beautiful program of Russian dances and songs and thousands of people were walking around with candles. The large crowd at the stadium in Montreal waved lighted sticks that were given to them at the entrance for the ceremony as a gesture of friendship which made for a beautiful sight from the center field where after the two hour performance we slowly leave the stadium with all the athletes and the games of the 21st Olympics ended .

XXII SUMMER OLYMPICS MOSCOW, USSR 19 JULY to 3 AUGUST 1980

Argentina's government, as always anti communistic, was one of the boycotting nations that did not attend the 1980 Summer Olympics and did not send a delegation to Moscow. Since I did not get accreditation, I will only narrate what I know about those games from friends that did attended. The Opening Ceremony started in mid afternoon when President Leonid Brezhnev entered the honor tribune of the Olympic Stadium accompanied by newly elected IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch and other officials and greeted by the sound of fanfares that resounded through the stadium for several minutes and the beginning of a wonderful show started to take place. The Moscow Symphony Orchestra played a theme of the ancient Olympics and the music from famous composers while the huge Olympic Rings were carried into the stadium by maidens dressed like Greek virgins. Three Roman carriages, each pulled by four horses of the type Nero competed with in the ancient Olympics were racing over the track while other acts were performed in the Greek as well as the Roman Tradition and no expenses were spared. It was a wonderful spectacle. Than a group of Russian women in their original festive costumes danced and sang to the folklore of their region and finally school children gave a great performance of gymnastics and dancing. The show was based on the 1980 Olympic Mascot Misha. Beautiful Russian music with very good singers and dancers which were all outstanding. When the field was cleared after that beautiful beginning, the athletes entered the stadium through the marathon gate to line up in front of the honor tribune, starting with the Greek team and last the host country USSR. Because of the Boycott many countries including the USA did not show up, which in my eyes was one of the big mistakes President Carter did to this county, as well as the athletes. Only 80 teams and 5,000 athletes out of a total of 147 nations competed at the Moscow Olympics, missing one of the most beautiful opening ceremonies, as officials and athletes from other countries have claimed. Even Great Britain and Australia, close allies of the USA let their athletes compete. Only athletes of the United States were not allowed to compete by orders of narrow minded and stubborn President Jimmy Carter who did not realize or care what it meant for an athlete to train and prepare for four years of hard work to qualify for the Olympics. It certainly was easy for him to make such a bad decision, one of many others that he made during, as well as after his term, specially by writing too much trash and lies in his books.

At 4 p.m. sharp, after the teams and athletes were lined up in front of the honor tribune in the field of the Lenin Stadium, the official Olympic Stadium. When Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of USSR, Leonid Brezhnev, the President of the CIO Lord Killanin, the President of the Organizing Committee Ignati Novokov, USSR Olympic Committee members V G Smirnov, K A Andrianov, S P Pavlov, President of the USSR Olympic Committe and IOC Chief of Protocol and newly elected President Juan Antonio Samaranch greeted everyone in the stadium from the honor tribune, as the orchestra was playing the theme song composed for the games by late Dimitri Shostakovich. After greeting, Ignati Novokov accompanied by Lord Killanin, went to the Speaker's Podium and thanked the athletes for attending, wishing them success and act fair throughout the games. Then President Lord Killanin addressed the athletes and asked President Brezhnev to open the games, which he did with the following words: "Esteemed Mr. President of CIO, athletes of the world, dear guests and comrades: I proclaim the Games of the XXII Olympiad of the modern era, as Open". The great Olympic Flag is brought in by eight Olympians escorted by 22 athletes carrying 22 white pigeons and while hoisted, the Olympic Hymn performed by the orchestra and a large chorus. The white pigeons are released. Then the Olympic Torch is carried in by three time Olympic Champion Victor Saneyev, who after running around the track to the large flagpole, gives it to Olympic Champion Sergei Belov who, after circling the stadium track, runs up the stairs of a specially built runway and holds the torch high up for one minute and then lights the Olympic Cauldron under roaring ovation Following the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, Olympic Champion Nikolai Andrianov takes the Athletes Oath on behalf of all competitors, while thousands of released pigeons soar upwards to the strains of "Ode to Sport" composed for the Opening Ceremony by a Soviet composer. Eduard Artemeyev, a triple Olympic Gold Medalist pledges the Olympic Oath on behalf of the athletes and then, one of the judges pledges the Olympic oath for judges to carry out their duties in impartiality and in conformity with IOC rules. The Soviet National Anthem is then performed by the the world renown USSR's Red Army Chorus and Orchestra by which the official part of the Opening Ceremony comes to an end with some of the Soviet and IOC Officials leaving the stadium and the athletes leaving the infield while finding a place at the front edges below the seats. At 6:00 pm sharp the new program begins with 147 Standard bearers and 800 athletes in gymnastic outfits show exhibits of calisthenics and other exercises, getting loud ovations and applause. Then a group of young couples perform an exhibit of National Costumes of the fifteen Soviet Republics and their original folk music, songs and dances, also getting a long standing ovation lasting several minutes. Several Russian Troikas enter the stadium trying their skills and racing all over the track and infield, circling the flaming Olympic Cauldron. Then 2,000 boys and girls, with many skilled Gymnasts and Acrobats demonstrate a wonderful Display of Gymnastics lasting about 30 minutes and getting a great ovation. Another young group of Gymnasts dressed in Bear costumes win a large ovation from the spectators and another 2000 athletes from the renown Trudjive Sports and Gymnast Society enter the stadium and form a four tier Greek Vase display of the five Olympic Rings of Olympic colors and again getting standing ovation. After that 4,500 athletes enter the stadium and form a Mosaic that changes 174 times, getting a long ovation for it. And to end this enormous super spectacle, a total of 16,000 participants fill the infield and create an outline map of the earth, with a star in it, symbolizing Moscow as host of the 1980 Olympic Games, a very beautiful display, getting continuous applause and ovations. And after long hours of these great displays, the Opening Ceremony ends, with athletes and spectators slowly leaving the Olympic Stadium from all sides.

The activities begin early with sprints and all other elimination sports. Athletes that stood out in Moscow were: Tomi Poikalainen FIN won Gold in Archery 3 points ahead of USSR who was ahead for three days and won on the last day, something never seen before. Miruts Rifter, ETH won 5,000 and 10,000 meters, emulating Lasse Viren's performance in 1972 and 1976. Allan Wells GBR won the 100 m sprints, beating Silvio Leonard CUB, Steve Ovett GBR, Gold in 800 m, Sebastian Coe GBR, Gold in 1,500, Gerd Wessig GDR Gold in High Jump, Tatiana Kolpakova USSR Gold in Long Jump, Barbel Woeckel GDR, 2 Gold for her second consecutive 200 m, and 4x100 relay, Tatiana Kazankina USSR Gold in two consecutive 1,500 m, Wladyslaw Kosakievicz POL Gold for Pole Vault, Waldemar Cierpinski GDR won his second consecutive Gold medal for the Marathon, Maurizio Damilano ITA, Gold in the 20 km walk, Lutz Dombrowski GDR Gold for the longest Long Jump in history, Yuriy Sedykh USSR Gold in Hammer throw, a world record, Evelyn Jahl GDR Gold for a second consecutive Discus record throw, Maria Colon CUB Gold for record Javelin throw, Sara Simeoni ITA Gold for her record High Jump, Daley Thompson GBR Gold for his Decathlon performance, Danis Kula USSR Gold in men's Javelin. In Boxing Teofilo Stevenson, CUB stood out winning three events and East Germany was superior in the rowing events, as well as in cycling. Football's Gold was won by Czechoslovakia, East Germany Silver and the USSR Bronze.

The Closing Ceremony on 3 August started at 7.30 pm, attended by 100,000 spectators. The athletes marched into the stadium as one large group, united by the Olympic Ideal with the orchestra playing marches, lining up in front of the honor tribune. Newly elected CIO President Juan Antonio Samaranch, and Honorary President Lord Killanin come to the podium accompanied by OCOG President Ignati Novikov who takes the microphone first and thanks the athletes for their participation of the Moscow Olympics. C IO President Samaranch does the same and invites the athletes to attend the next Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California in 1984, while on the big screen pictures of the Moscow Olympics are being flashed. After the speeches the flag bearers of the 80 participating countries form a large circle and while the Greek National Anthem is played their flag is hoisted on the right post and the same follows on the center post for the USSR as host nation and the same for the Los Angeles Olympics with the Star Spangled Banner hoisted on the left post being the next nation to host the Olympics. Then Lord Killanin came to the microphone saying: "According to tradition I am closing the Moscow Games as I did in Lake Placid last February. This is my last appearance as the President of the CIO and I wish my successor Juan Antonio Samaranch also a good presidency. I want to express to all members of the International Olympic Committee, the International Sports Federations and National Olympic Committees and everybody who assisted me during my term of office, a deep gratitude, and the same to the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet-USSR Leonid Brezhnev and OCOG President Ignati Novikov. And with this said, I herewith declare the Games of the XXII Olympiad of Moscow 1980, closed." And as the speeches came to an end and the Olympic Flame at the Cauldron slowly got smaller until it extinguished, cannons were fired, fireworks were exploding, and loud music and lively dancing amid all athletes and competitors was starting and two hours or so later, the Moscow Olympics were part of the past and everybody left the large Olympic Lenin Stadium.

XXIII SUMMER OLYMPICS LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA USA 18 JULY to12 AUGUST 1984

The XXIII Olympiad of Los Angeles was staged and scattered all over the greater Los Angeles area, Orange County and as far south as San Diego. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies took place at the Los Angeles Coliseum, the site of the 1932 Olympics, staged by Bud Greenspan, and started with Bill Suitor, also known as the "Jet Pack" coming from outer space in a space suit, and landing in middle of the Coliseum field and getting a big ovation from the spectators. Then organizers Paul Ziffren, Harry Usher and Peter Ueberroth went to the podium to welcome President Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy, Vice President George Bush, USOC President William Simon Governor George Deukmejian, Mayor Tom Bradley and IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch who was also on the podium, and after thanking Peter Ueberroth, hands Mayor Tom Bradley the Olympic IOC Flag, which will remain in Los Angeles until the end of the Olympics, when it will be transferred to the Mayor of of the next Summer Olympics which will be Seoul, Korea, and marks the beginning of the Opening Ceremony.

After playing the National Anthem, 6,829 Athletes representing 140 participating nations enter the Stadium with Greece first and the large US delegation last, ending the Parade of Nations, and taking their places in front of the Honor Tribune, which is filled with IOC Officials, the Diplomatic Corp and Government of State and Military Officials. And after LAOOC Organizing President Peter Ueberroth greets the athletes, officials and spectators and thanks them for coming, he hands IOC President Antonio Samaranch the microphone, who also greets the Athletes, thanking them for their participation and reminding them of a Fair Play policy. He than asks President Ronald Reagan to open the Games, which he does with these words: "Celebrating the XXIII Olympiad of the modern era, I declare the Olympic Games of Los Angeles as open". Fanfares sound as John Williams directs the orchestra to "Fanfares and Theme", he composed for the games. Then the giant Olympic Flag is brought into the stadium, carried by eight famous Olympians and twenty guides, and is hoisted onto the flagpole, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Opera Chorus perform the chorale of the 9th Symphony by Ludwig Van Beethoven. Then, as the Olympic Flame and Torch appears in the Coliseum carried by Rafer Johnson, the 1960 Rome Decathlon Gold Medalist and Jesse Owens's granddaughter Gina Hemphill, roaring ovation starts sounding throughout the Coliseum while the Orchestra and Chorus performs the Olympic Hymn and after they circle the track, Rafer Johnson the 1960 Rome Decathlon Gold Medalist, takes the torch and carries the Torch alone up the steps to the large Olympic Rings and as he lights them, the flame ascends all the way up to the Olympic Cauldron among another very loud ovation, while thousands of pigeons are released and fly around the stadium, while Handel's Royal Fireworks Music is being played by the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra. Next the Olympic Oath is pledged by triple hurdle Gold medalist Edwin Moses, who takes the Athletes Oath, holding a corner of the Olympic Flag with the left hand, while raising his right hand with these words: "In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams" Then Sharon Weber, a judge in Gymnastics, takes the Official's Olympic Oath for Judges with these words: "In the name of all the judges, I promise that we shall officiate in these Olympic Games, with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship". Next the National Anthem is played by the Los Angeles Symphony and sang by the L.A. Opera chorus, which ends the official part of the Opening Ceremony. Then lively Jazz and other music and dancing is going on all over the infield of the Coliseum. Beautiful Fireworks fill the sky and thousands of balloons are released, but since next day begin two weeks of hard competition, after two hours, the Opening Ceremony of 1984 Los Angeles Olympics ends.

Athletes of 1984 games standing out, were Carl Lewis USA; four Gold medals, equaling Jesse Owens record in Berlin, Joan Benoit USA, Gold in the woman's Marathon, Connie Carpenter USA Gold Cycling, Mary Meagher USA two Gold Butterfly Swim, Edwin Moses USA Gold in 400 m Hurdles, Greg Louganis USA Gold for Diving, Mary Lou Retton USA Gold in Gymnastics, Ekatarina Szabo RUM 4 Gold in Gymnastics, Carlos Lopes POR, Gold in the Marathon, Sebastian Cole GB two consecutive Gold in 1500m, Steffi Graf GER Gold Tennis, Other USA Gold in 4x100 m Relay, USA Gold in Basketball, USA Gold in Volleyball, PAK Gold in Men's Field Hockey NET Gold in Women's Hockey, YUG Gold for Men and Women Handball, YUG Gold in Waterpolo, in Football, France won 2:0 against Brazil, winning Gold medals, with Brazil the Silver and Yugoslavia the Bronze Medals.

The Closing Ceremonies in the evening of 12 August were also nicely staged by Bud Greenspan with teams of all the nations entering the Coliseum together and the flag bearers forming a large circle around the podium. First, OCOG President Ueberroth thanked the Athletes for participating followed by IOC President Samaranch doing the same. The Mayors of Los Angeles and Seoul stepped to the platform and the Olympic Flag held by Mayor Bradley was handed to the Mayor of Seoul, Korea, the site of the next Summer Olympics. The US flag is hoisted on the center pole in front of the podium and the National Anthem played. Then, according to protocol, the flag of Greece is hoisted on the left flagpole and their National Anthem played, with the Korean Flag last to hoist and playing their National Anthem. Then IOC President Samaranch takes the microphone to say good bye to the athletes, and inviting them to participate in the next Games in Seoul. When the large Olympic Flag is lowered and carried away by eight Olympians, President Samaranch closes the Olympics with these words: "I thank all officials and volunteers for their assistance at these games and according to protocol, I declare the Games of the XXIII Olympiad as closed" Slowly, the Olympic Flame at the cauldron gets dark, marking the end of the Closing Ceremony. And after the official ceremony concluded, festivities started with beautiful fireworks, music and dancing which went on for over an hour, until a bright flash of light appeared in the sky and coming closer and closer, changing into a bright red light beam with the music changing to space music composed by John Williams, when a request to land was authorized by the Coliseum and amid a bright red glow and heavy white smoke, a spacecraft descended and landed in midst of the Coliseum and out came an alien giant who by greeting the athletes and spectators, gave the ceremony an interesting ending. When all the team flags were lining up around the edges of the stadium, the athletes then went to say good bye to their newly made friends, and started to assemble at their team flags to await further orders and after a while they slowly left through the marathon gate, and the Los Angeles XXIII. Olympic Games of 1984, were only something of the past.

This chapter of Summer Olympics #1 that I have been attending since 1936 at age ten, ends with the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and will eventually resume later, time permitting, with the chapter of the Summer Olympics #2 right following this brown small printed line with the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

XXIV. SUMMER OLYMPICS, SEOUL KOREA

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