Historian Harry Gordon writes about the boy
Olympic Games in Crisis
The IOC and the Organizing Committee were desperate to find a solution
Olympic History in the making
In the year of 1956, there was the Suez Crisis, and also Russia had invaded Hungary. In the same year, the Olympic Games were to be held in Melbourne Australia.
Some countries decided to boycott the Games as a protest and during those Games, athletes from certain countries had been advised by their Governments not to mix with other athletes in the Olympic Village.
It all came to a head when Russia and Hungary met in the final of the Water Polo. A near riot broke out between the players, the police were called to calm the situation and the game had to be stopped, as there was so much blood in the water.
The IOC and the Organizing Committee had by now given up all hope of saving the Games from ending in failure. The closing ceremony could not come quick enough for them.
Greece
The IOC President Avery Brundage with Prince Philip at the Opening Ceremony
Opening Ceremony of the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games
A Boy's Idea
Athletes enter the Stadium as separate countries during the Opening Ceremony.
Credit: Victoria Library Aust.
John Ian Wing had an idea for the Closing Ceremony which would save the Olympic Games
As a young boy, John Ian Wing became very concerned that the Olympic Movement was being torn apart. Governments and politicians were using the Olympics for their political gains and the athletes were a 'pawn' in their game.
John remembered an old saying, "The pen is mightier than the sword". Rather than screaming and shouting at the politicians, he decided to write a letter to the Organizing Committee with a solution to their problems.
Ron Clarke Melbourne 1956
Credit: Victoria Library Aust.
During the Closing Ceremony the athletes entered the Stadium intermingled as One Nation, The Olympic Nation.
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