The Games of the XVII Olympiade in Rome 1960

Transcription

1 The Games of the XVII Olympiade in Rome 1960 (Continuation of our informations published in our Bulletins N os 62 and 63.) Lake Albano for the Rowing and Canoe from Rome (21 kms. 3 along the Appian competitions Way, then turning to the left, 3 kms. along a different road and a last lap of 1 km. 70 With the approval of the Ministry for metres down to the water) and 293 metres Public Works, and the agreement of the above sea level ; it has a circumference of International Sports Federations concerned 10 kms. and its maximum depth is 170 the Executive Board of the Italian National metres. This crater is curiously formed in Olympic Committee has chosen Lake Albano, the shape of an amphitheatre which will lying below Castelgandolfo, for the rowing make it possible for thousands of spectators and canoeing events of the 1960 Olympic to follow all phases of the competitions. programme. Many building enterprises will be under- From 1903 until the present day, hun- taken, the most important of which will be dreds of important rowing contests, from the construction of boathouses. The area Italian to European championships, have for the events and the roads giving access been held on this charming lake which to it will be considerably improved. lies in the crater of a former volcano. Lake Castelgandolfo stands above the lake, Albano is 26 Kms. (16 1/4 miles) distant 426 metres above sea level, surrounded by 48

2 luxurious villas standing on land richly planted with olive trees and vines. The town stands on the site of the ancient Alba Longa, which, according to the legend, was founded by Ascanius, son of Aeneas. Nothing remains of this ancient town, but there still exists an effluent which dates back to 396 B.C. It is a huge tunnel. about 1 km. 300 m. long., built by the Romans at the time of the war with Veium to maintain the waters of the lake, which are fed by natural springs, at a constant level. It is in operation even today. There are also ruins of a luxurious villa of the Roman era which used to be the residence of Domitian and is now incorporated in the buildings of the Papal Villa. The area was named after the Gandolfi, a family of Genovese origin, who built a castle on the summit. Subsequently it came into the possession of the Savelli family, who held it until 1200 ; it was then governed as a free dukedom until 1500 ; in 1604 it was declared an inalienable dominion of the Holy See and has since become the summer residence of the Popes. The first Pope to make use of this summer residence was Urban VIII who went there on 10th May, 1626, and from that time onwards nearly all the Popes have resided there. The clear waters of the lake, the historical papal residence, the Church of Saint Thomas of Villanova by Bernini, who also designed the delightful fountain in the square, the villas, woods and oleanders are a beautiful spectacle and have made of Castelgandolfo a famous resort for summer holidays and Sunday excursions. Itinerary of the Olympic Torch During his recent visit to Rome. Mr. Georges A. Vichos, Secretary-General of the Greek Secretariat of State for Sport, attended a meeting at the Head Offices of the Organizing Committee for the Games of the XVII Olympiad specially called for the purpose of defining and resolving problems connected with the mutual organization for the Olympic Flame s long journey. It. was agreed that the ideal route. because it would follow that taken some 25 centuries ago - according to history - in occasion of the Olympiads-of ancient times, would be from Olympia to Athens and from Athens to Rome by sea circumnavigating the Peloponnesus and then by land from Syracuse to Crotone, Taranto, Paestum, Pompei to Rome. The transit through Athens is also a tradition of recent Olympic Games and the Organizing Committee is pleased to be able to respect this tradition. Mr. Vichos gave assurances of full collaboration by the Greek Authorities. The Sacred Way which passes under the Arch of Titus (inaugurated in 71 A.D.) and alongside the Temple of Venus and Rome (built by Hadrian in 121 A.D.) is to form part of the course of the relay which, in the afternoon of the 25th August 1960, will bring the Olympic Flame to Rome. The historic road which crosses the Roman Forum will be the last lap of the long journey, part of which follows the route taken by the ancient Greeks when they emigrated to Italy about the VIIIth Century B.C. and founded Magna Grecia. Olympic cards for leaders and officials of the International Federations Article 38 of the Olympic Regulations lays down that the officials and a jury for each sport shall be nominated by the relevant International Federation ; consequently : a) identity cards for Presidents and for Secretaries-General of the International Sport Federations as well as for all delegates, judges, and referees nominated by the International Sport Federations will bear the signatures of the Presidents and Secretaries-General of the appropriate International Sport Federations as opposed to those of the Presidents and Secretaries-General of the National Olympic Committees. The Presidents and Secretaries-General of the International Sport Federations will be issued with special Olympic Cards which, amongst other facilities, will give access to Stand B. b) these identity cards will therefore be sent direct to the offices of the various International Sport Federations who will be responsible for completing them, signing them and forwarding them to their respective holders. c) to ensure that adequate accommodation is reserved for referees, judges, delegates, etc., as it will not be possible to accommodate them in the Olympic Village, the relative applications made through the International Sport Federations should reach the Organizing Committee at least three months prior to the opening of the Games. Course of the Marathon race : 42 Km. 195 The diagram which is published in the present edition shows the course of the Marathon. The competitors will collect in the Capitole Square and then proceed to the foot of the great stairway where the race will start. The gradient of that course varies between 22 metres and 92 metres, the start being located at an altitude of 26 m. and the arrival (Arco di Costantino) at 22 metres. For reason of heat at that time of the year, that competition will take place in the evening. 49

3 Financial Help for the Olympic Village of Rome in Preparation for the 1960 Games Last August, the Italian Minister of Public Works signed a decree attributing a credit of 6 milliards 500 millions Lira for the building of the Olympic Village. Once the 1960 Games are over, the houses of this village will be out at the disposal of families of moderate means. In this manner, the Games will once more prove a useful institution. Furthermore, 8000 persons will receive accommodation in the village. Exhibition of History of Sport in Art and Sport 2,500 years ago On the 16th April last, an inspection was made of the new Etruscan tomb discovered in the famous necropolis of Tarquinia in the vicinity of Rome. The tomb was given the name of Tomb of the Olympiads by the archaeologists because it is covered with frescoes depicting sporting episodes and because this discovery was made during the Olympic quadrennium. The vivid paintings on the walls of the tomb are of exceptional interest ; they recall the realistic popular style of the primitive phase of the Ionic-Etruscan period (520 B.C. approx.) and depict, amongst other things, a discus thrower, an athlete jumping, three runners competing, two boxers (one of whom is almost entirely obliterated) and a spectacular chariot race. The frescoes will be detached and the tomb reassembled and placed on view in the halls of the Exhibition of the History of Sport in Art which is being prepared for the Rome Olympiad. Particular care will be devoted to the artistic aspect so that the historic monuments will provide a fine setting for the sporting events of the Games. Olympic Week in Italy This was held throughout the Italian Peninsula from August 25th to September 11th. The most capable young sportsmen under 18 years of age took part in the enterprise which was on a very large scale in order to help for the preparation of the coming Games. In this connection, over events were organized both in the field of sport and in the cultural field. exhibitions, etc.) Sports Exhibition in Turin (Conferences. As a result of the Exhibition which met with such success four years ago, the Turin Sports Exhibition will again open its doors in Olympism will again be represented in the Central Hall, and the organizers are. at present, negotiating with the International Olympic Committee in order to give this Exhibition, the full character it deserves. 50

4 LE VOYAGE DU FEU D OLYMPIE ITINERARY OF THE OLYMPIC TORCH (Voir noire article page 15 See our text on page 39) LES JEUX OLYMPIQUES DE ROME 1960 Ci-contre : PARCOURS DU MARATHON COURSE OF THE MARATHON (Voir notre article en page 16 See our text on page 49)

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