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Programme
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Olympic
Games
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Stockholm
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1912
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Sweden
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DRAWING UP THE DAILY PROGRAMME OF THE
COMPETITIONS
In consequence of the great number of inquiries from various countries,
received as early as the beginning of 1910, concerning the programme of
the Games, a preliminary investigation was made in the April of that year
for the purpose of discovering the number of days that would be necessary
for the completion of the programme which, at an earlier period, had been
decided on for the Games. It daily programme, as the probable number of
competitors in the various was, of course, impossible at that early date
to draw up a complete branches of athletics was still unknown. In drafting
this first preliminary daily programme, there was taken as the starting
point the principle, that persons interested in several branches of athletic
sport ought to be given the opportunity of seeing, for example, both field
and track events and swimming as well. It was considered, too, that an
athlete who wished to take part in more than one competition ought not
to be obliged to appear in several or all of these on the same day, or
on many successive days. The endeavour to observe these two points gave
rise to many difficulties, however.
The first draft daily programme, which was laid before the Swedish Olympic
Committee early in 1910, included competitions in pure athletics and swimming,
extending over a period of 10 days, from the Saturday in the one week until
the Monday week following, both days inclusive. It afterwards proved necessary
to make somewhat essential alterations in this plan, the number of competitors
being so immensely greater than had been expected, and, in consequence
of this latter fact, the Committee found itself obliged in the case of
several branches of athletics, to divide the events into forenoon- and
afternoon competitions. Even at the beginning of 1912, the select Committee
appointed for drawing up the programme considered that it was unable to
do more than to fix the days for the competitions in the various branches
of sport, together with the sequence of the events on each successive day.
It was impossible, however, to determine the hours when the various competitions
were to begin, until all the entries had been received. |
| It was not before the entries had closed, and a calculation had
been made of the approximate number of competitors that were to start in
each event, that the select committee, in collaboration with the General
Secretariat, began to draw up the daily programme in detail, giving both
the names of the various competitions that were to be held each day, and
the hour at which each event should begin. This labour was, in some degree,
facilitated by a plan that had, some time before, been adopted by the Swedish
Olympic Committee, viz., that of writing to various well-known officials
in the Swedish athletic world, begging them to observe the length of time
occupied by the various competitions, and to make a note of the number
of competitors on these occasions. The material thus obtained beforehand,
now served to determine the time that could be allowed for the competitions
in the daily programme, and after one or two changes, the programme in
question was finally drawn up at the beginning of June, 1912. |
| A thorough alteration in the draft programme had to be made,
however, as regards the Decathlon, which was extended over three days instead
of two. Here, in Sweden, the Decathlon is considered to be a proof of endurance
as well as a trial of the all-round athletic skill of the competitor. In
consequence of the great number of entries, however, the test of endurance
had to be neglected, and the prize was to be awarded to the one who could
gain the best total results in the ten events, so that bodily vigour and
endurance did not obtain that place of honour originally intended for them.
The following International Athletic Congresses were held in Stockholm
during, and in connection with, the Fifth Olympiad:
That of the International Football Federation.
International Swimming Federation.
Northern Rowing Association.
Northern Bandy Association.
Northern Skating Association.
Swedish Athletic Association, for the formation
of an International Amateur Athletic Federation.
A special general daily programme was issued in English, French, German
and Swedish, in addition to which, the special committees issued technical
daily programmes to the extent they were needed. With regard to the holding
of competitions on Sundays, the resolution was come to on the 27 June,
1911, that no competitions should take place during the hours of Divine
Service, with the exception, however, of the cycling road race round Lake
Mälar; the traffic, and other special circumstances making it an impossibility
to hold fast to the rule in question on that occasion. In accordance with
these principles, the select committee drew up the following, definite
general daily programme.
(Source document: Official
report 1912, page 74) |
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