The baton used in the relay, the only equipment required for the flat races, is exactly prescribed by the contest regulations. Most of the competitors and promoters of athletic events did not realize this fact. Otherwise batons of varying thickness or with different kinds of grooves would not have been used in training for the Games. At the meeting of the International Amateur Athletic Federation in Stockholm, in August, 1934, a new type of hurdle was suggested for the hurdle races, which should be in the form of an "L" rather than an inverted "T". This form was chosen because it was less dangerous for the runners. The old type of hurdle rises into the air when it is knocked over. The new hurdle falls directly to the ground without endangering the runner. The
The finishing line. Right to left: the timekeepers' "staircase," the uprights at the finishing line, the judges on their similar staircase, and
the tower for the timing camera.
1.6 metre hurdle was constructed so that it would be overturned by a weight of 3.6 kilog. When the 80 new hurdles purchased for the contest (6 x 10 = 60, plus 20 reserve hurdles) were examined, the representative of the International Amateur Athletic Federation doubted whether the hurdles should fall when subjected to a driving weight of 3.6 kilog., or whether they should not be able to resist this weight. Since the contest regulations state that the hurdles may fall when subjected to a driving weight of 3.6 kilog., the Organizing Committee concluded that the hurdles should not fall if subjected to 3.599 kilos. It would be advisable in the future to provide that the hurdles should be overturned by a weight of at least 3.7 kilog. in order to avoid any difficulty at the examination. The Organizing Committee had only the measurements of the new type of hurdles, with no directions as to their manner of construction. No model was available. The German athletic equipment industry rendered expert assistance in developing the final form, which the International Federation later praised as an excellent solution of the problem. The hurdle consisted of a steel framework, which could be adjusted to three heights for the 80, 400 and 110 metre hurdle races. The Organizing Committee also further developed the 3.66 metre wide hurdle for the 3,000 metre steeplechase, as compared with those provided in Los Angeles and Amsterdam. The hurdles used in 1928 and 1932 were too light. There was danger that they would fall over when the runners knocked against them. Therefore a heavier form, with cross-pieces 12 centimetres wide, was chosen. Thus it was possible for the runners to jump on the hurdle and jump down from it, if they no longer had enough strength to jump over it. The little marking pegs in different colours, with iron points, which were provided for the broad jumpers, deserve to be mentioned. These eliminated the necessity for unaesthetic distinguishing marks, such as shoes and handkerchiefs. Very few of these marking pegs were returned to the apparatus room. The competitors thought them so attractive that they kept them as souvenirs. The take-off boards for the broad jump were ash blocks 20 centimetres