THE
XI™ OLYMPIC GAMES BERLIN, 1936
OFFICIAL REPORT
VOLUME I
BY
ORGANISATIONSKOMITEE FЬR DIE XI. OLYMPIADE BERLIN 1936 E. V.
PUBLISHED BY WILHELM LIMPERT, BERLIN, S.W. 68
Prepared by the Organisationskomitee fьr die XI. Olympiade Berlin 1936 e. V.
Responsible for the contents: Dr. Carl Diem, Berlin-Grunewald Editor: Dr. Friedrich Richter, Berlin-Lichterfelde Preliminary work: Fr. Budzinski, Berlin-Tempelhof, Frieder Kцrner, Berlin Illustrations: Wilhelm Reetz, Berlin Statistics: Dr. Fritz Wasner, Berlin-Zehlendorf Printed by Wilhelm Limpert, Berlin SW 68, Ritterstrasse 75
The publisher reserves all rights, especially those pertaining to film, radio and translation
into foreign languages
Copyright 1937 by Wilhelm Limpert-Verlag, Berlin SW 68, Ritterstrasse 75
"The eternal source, dedicated to the highest."
Temple of Hera in the Sacred Grove
Printed in Germany of Olympia.
THE GAMES ARE ENDED . . .
While more than a hundred thousand deeply moved spectators and athletes who had assembled on August 16th, 1936 under the great dome of light in the Olympic Stadium clasped hands and sang the song of Olympic brotherhood, the white flag with its five symbolic rings was slowly lowered and the Eleventh Olympic Games came to an end. Everyone who participated in the celebration of the Berlin Festival was impressed and inspired by this rousing symphony of life, with its joy of competition and magnificent display of youthful strength.
Were the Olympic Games merely a sporting event of gigantic proportions, an array of world championships in the various fields of physical training, they would be nothing more than one festival among many. But they are more than that, and thus they grow from Olympiad to Olympiad, the expression of a mighty all-enveloping educative ideal which rises above the limits of time and the confines of national frontiers, aiming at physical, mental and moral perfection. This fact lends meaning and significance to the Games and justifies the extensive preparation necessary for their presentation. Here, too, may be said to lie the reason for the compilation of this work, presenting as it does all the various phases and aspects of the impressive Festival.
It is to be hoped that the editors will not be accused of having paid exaggerated attention to detail in including, for example, even the apparently unimportant preliminary competitions in this memorial publication. They did so realizing that even the last and least prospective participant was inspired by the will to achieve Olympic victory. Baron de Coubertin once said:
"The important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well."
This work is intended as a symbol of our sincere gratitude to all of the numerous guests who contributed to the success of the Berlin Olympic Games. Its compilers also trust that it will provide an insight into the thorough and extensive preparations made by Germany in order to lend a festive character to the Games and ensure their successful presentation. Far be it from our intentions to indulge in self-praise for an obligation gladly assumed and joyfully carried out, since all that we planned and accomplished originated in our deep veneration of the Olympic ideal, but we are proud and grateful for having had the opportunity of giving this ideal a new impetus through the complete success of a great international festival. So much credit we may modestly claim. We dedicate this book to the friends of the Olympic ideal throughout the world.