By Olympic Gold Medallist M. N. Masood
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Berlin Olympics
| The Fuhrer proceeded towards the
Olympic Stadium, passing through the ranks of the competitors and officials.
He saluted every flag which he passed en route, and we saw him, the idol of
the Germans, for the first time.
He was clad in brown, an athletic figure, and trod the ground with a firm step. Occasionally he looked sideways and his face was serious. The occupants of the Maifield, thousands in number, were hushed to complete silence. |
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ugust
1, 1936 proclaimed to the world that the eleventh Olympic competitions were
about to commence. The ceremony thrilled us to our very bones by its grandeur;
regularity and festivity.
To enable the reader to follow the Opening Ceremony closely, the events are given as they happened:
1:15 pm: The competitors mounted the special omnibuses arranged by the National Army Transportation Division. There was a long row of the buses, and our bus number was 150.
This big caravan began to creep at the scheduled time. With our golden 'kullahs' and light blue turbans, our contingent appeared as members of a marriage procession of some rich Hindu gentleman, rather than competitors in the Olympic Games.
All along the route, via Staaken, Heestrabe and Glockenturmstrabe to the Bell Tower, our final destination, long rows of enthusiasts waited on either side of the road and waved and cheered as each bus with the national flag flying slowly passed before their view.
2:15 pm: Arrived at the Bell Tower, proceeded to the Maifield.
2:30 pm: The women participants arrived from Friesenhaus and joined the competitors.
We were now divided into two groups, twenty six countries on the north side and twenty seven countries on the south side of the Maifield, facing each other. India was in the former group, Italy on her right and Haiti, which was represented by only one athlete, on her left.
Holland was facing India, with Great Britain and Iceland on either side.
A German placard-bearer was in front, Mr. Dhyan Chand with the national flag stood behind the bearer. Mr. Jagannath occupied the next position. The team stood three deep according to size.
3:15 pm: The Honour Battalion of the National Army arrived at the Bell Tower, and we saw for the first time the giant Zeppelin, Hindenberg, circling majestically over the Olympic Stadium.
3: 35 pm: The International Olympic Committee and Organising Committee arrived and took their places in the Maifield.
3:48 pm: The Fuhrer and the Reich Minister of the Interior arrived and inspected the Honour Battalion before the Bell Tower.
3:55 pm: The Fuhrer entered the Maifield, and was greeted by the Presidents of the International Olympic Committee and the Organising Committee.
The Fuhrer proceeded towards the Olympic Stadium, passing through the ranks of the competitors and officials. He saluted every flag which he passed en route, and we saw him, the idol of the Germans, for the first time.
He was clad in brown, an athletic figure, and trod the ground with a firm step. Occasionally he looked sideways and his face was serious, but not stern. The occupants of the Maifield, thousands in number, were hushed to complete silence. When the Fuhrer neared the Stadium, a multitude of young boys who were watching the proceedings from outside, saw their idol approaching towards them. With one great cry, they shouted "Heil, Hitler!" and broke the silence of the Maifield.
4:00 pm: The Fuhrer and the two Committees entered the Stadium. The large orchestra played the "March of Allegiance'" by Richard Wagner until the Fuhrer and the two Committees had entered their Loges.
4:05 pm: When the Fuhrer had taken his seat, the German national hymns, "Deutschland" and "Horst Wessel-Lied", were played. The hundred thousand Germans in the Stadium stood to their feet and sang with one voice the two hymns. It made a strange impression upon us, and not an eye was left dry.
India rose before our imagination, her poor begging for bread, her unemployed struggling for existence and her rich carefree of everything except themselves. Somehow the spring of our national feelings was touched, and the unity and solidarity of the people in the Stadium made us look with shame and regret at our poverty, destitution and discord.
4:12 pm: At the command, "Raise the Colours", a company from the Reich Naval Corps hoisted the flags of all participating nations on the various flag staffs at the Stadium.
4:13 pm: The ringing of the Olympic Bell heralded the opening of the Games. This bell was 16 tons in weight, and was hung from a 250 feet high tower named "The Bell Tower". The bell was a symbolic emblem for the Olympic Games, and was adorned with the two symbols, the "Reich Eagle" bearing the five Olympic rings and the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate). Engraved around its rim was the traditional motto, "I summon the youth of the world". May peace have been its first peal!
4:15 pm: At the command ‘Participants March!’, the nations entered the Stadium, the spacing between the different nations being regulated at the mouth of the tunnel.
A distance of 5 yards was maintained between the placard carrier and the flag bearer. The distance between the last row of a national group and the placard carrier of the following group was 20 yards.
The order of the march was alphabetical (according to German spelling) with Greece, the home of Olympic Games, at the head and Germany, the host, bringing up the rear. India followed Holland, and was followed in turn by Iceland. As it marched past the Loges of Honour, each national group saluted the Fuhrer and the two Committees by lowering of the flag and according to the custom of the country.
Some nations were cheered mildly, others enthusiastically, according to the popularity or unpopularity of a nation earned in previous Olympics. Austria, perhaps, received the greatest ovation and clappings. India, though insignificant in terms of the number of the participants, was conspicuous by her colourful headgear and was greeted by quite a multitude of the huge crowd.
4:55 pm: The words of Baron de Coubertin were repeated over the loudspeaker “The important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning, but taking part. The essential thing in life is not conquering, but fighting well".
The President of the Organising Committee, H. E. Dr. Lewald, mounted the Speaker's Stand and delivered the address of welcome.
5:00 pm: The Fuhrer proclaimed open the Games of Berlin celebrating the XIth Olympiad of the modern era. At the command, "Hoist the Flag":
5:05 pm: The Olympic Hymn by Richard Strauss, under the direction of the composer, was played. The hymn was selected by public competition from over 3,000 entries.
5:11 pm: The last torch relay runner entered the Stadium and lit the Olympic Fire, which kept on burning till the evening of 16th August, when the Olympic Games were closed.
5:15 pm: The Marathon winner of the first Olympiad held at Athens in 1896, Spiridon Louis, handed over to the Fuhrer the olive branch, the emblem of victory and the symbol of youthful strength, from Athens.
5:18 pm: A German flag bearer and an active German participant stepped forward to take the Olympic Oath. The latter mounted the Speaker's platform and raised his right hand to take the Olympic Oath, while with his left hand he grasped the German flag, which the flag bearer held up to him.
This was the Oath: "We swear that we will take part in the Olympic Games in loyal competition, respecting the regulations which govern them, and desirous of participating in them in true spirit of sportsmanship, for the honour of our country and for the glory of sport.”
5:29 pm: The national groups left the Stadium in the order they entered, through the tunnel, on to the Maifield and to the waiting buses. And thus ended a day the proceedings of which shall ever be remembered by those who participated in them.
To us it meant more than a day of impressive ceremony. It introduced us to the competitions which tested our stamina, courage and skill. It ushered in a fortnight of healthy rivalries, and of wins and defeats taken in a remarkably sporting way.
Hitler entering the Olympic Stadium