After the Games, the boy wrote a second letter to the chairman of the Organizing Committee Wilfrid Kent Hughes, thanking him for accepting his idea. The boy John Ian Wing, included his name and address this time but he requested that he remain anonymous. He was awarded an Olympic medal for his ‘idea’

 
  John with Harry Gordon

Thirty years later, a student name Shane Cahill was doing his thesis on the Olympic Games at Melbourne University. He was going through the papers of the late Sir Wilfrid Kent Hughes’ papers and he came across a sheet of paper which was covered in coloured dots. Sir Wilfrid had been a military man so could this be a coded message or could it be a plan of attack. On closer examination, Cahill realized the drawing was to do with the 1956 Melbourne Closing Ceremony. He eventually found the boy’s letter amongst all the other papers.

  Shane Cahill

Cahill notified the authorities and a search was made in Melbourne for the missing John Ian Wing. There was no trace of him and Harry Gordon a writer for Time Magazine Australia, wrote a story ‘Where are you John Ian Wing’. Through Harry’s article, John was found living in London. He was flown back to Melbourne not long after as guest of honour for the opening of the Australian Gallery of Sports at the MCG, formerly the Olympic Stadium.

John Ian Wing Parade

John was guest of honour at the 2000 Sydney Games and for the first time, he was able to watch in person the Olympic Closing Ceremony. The main street leading from the Olympic Village to the Stadium was named the John Ian Wing Parade in his honour.