The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-14
Melvin W. Sheppard of Irish.Amercan Athletic Club,
and N. + Hallows of30ford, Break Worlds Record !
in Preliminary l,500.Metre Heats--Americans
Make Striking Appearance in Opening

Association, welcomed their Nfajesties
at the entrance TO the stadium and
presented the members OF the Inter-
national Olympic Council.
At7ilctes Parade.
AS the king entered the royal box
q bugler Gave a signal, the gates lead
Ing to the competitors quarters flew
open, and the athletes marched out
under the banners OF their respective
nations. The procession was formed
in Alphabetical order, Austria lending,
with the exception that the English-
speaking races came last.
The latter section was led by the
American team, with Garrett, OF the
Chicago Athletic Associations. at ItJ
head carrying the stars and Stripes.
The British colonies were directly be-
hind the Americana, and at the end
the United Kingdom as hosts. AS the
procession came into the stadium each
country received applause, that Tor
America and the colonies being parti-
'cularly enthusiastic.
Before the arrival OF King Edward
tho athletes paraded around the
ground. The representatives OF the
United Kingdom looked formidable
with their array o. 51smen The near
gcSI taDpTUACI1 10 llllb AuUJUSA w 40
Frances 219 contestants. Sweden came
next with 1859. and then Hungary with
1874 men. The Americans would have
had the next largest army with l4S,
but Trainer Murphy refused to allow
the men to come up for the ceremony.
In ali twenty-one countries were rep-
resented and among that gathering
Turkey was represented with one
competitor.
The athletes having taken up posi-
tions facing the royal box. the Amer
leans In the centre, banked by the
Canadians and tho Englishmen, Lord
Desborough marched up with the mern-
bers OF the executive committee and
said:
..Will Your Majesty graciously de-
clare the olympic games opened"
Games Are Opened.
IN reply. the King said: II declare
the olympic games OF London OPEN.
At the completion OF this ceremony
cheering broke out from all parts OF
the stadium. After the demonstration
cheers for His Majesty. and then
marched past the royal box.
The men made splendid appear
ance. The Americans were among
those who wore street clothes, but
even thus attired the size of the men
evoked much favorable comment. Ralph
Rose, OF the Olympic Club. San Fran
cisco, and Lee j. Talbot. OF the irish
American A. c., and the other giants
OF the team. towering over majority
OF those whom they are to meet.
Charles Daniels. New York Athletic
Club. although entered in the 400
metres swimming race. did not start,
having decided TO reserve himself for
the shorter distances. l.. Budd Good
win, New York Athletic Club. was the
only other American entered. but he
was unplaced.
The first heat OF the 400 metres
swimming event was won by Battersby,
United Kingdom; Lastorres. Hungary,
second; L. Budd Goodwin, New York
a. c., third. Time. 5:4s. The second
heat was Won by Foster. England.
Time. 5:04 As.
The other event OF the day was the
four-heat tandem bicycle race OF 1000
metres, and though some OF the Amer
leans were entered In this event, none
OF them reached the scratch.
An incident which is causing much
talk in sporting circles is the failure
OF the olympic committe to have either
the American or the Swedish flags dis
played in the stadium
The Americans resented this omis-
sion somewhat by bringing out many
OF their own stars and stripes, but
Sweden, although Crown Prince Gustav
was present, was represented by but
the single flag carried by that ma
TONS athletes. The big events to be
contested for tomorrow. In which