Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-08-14
Open Games.
Of 0lylnpiiad
With Parade
Americans Have Largest
Delegation Of Athletes
Except Belgians in In
itial Ceremonies

Antwerp, Aug. 14.-The Olympic
Stadium was opened today. 1t was a
formal ceremony staged with a setting
OF flags. banners and fluttering pen.
nants against background of white
stone, cement and wood, with royalty.
lofficialdom. displomacy, fame and
fashion participating in the program
or represented in the boxes. But the
thousands of spectators packed about
the huge oval centered their interest
IN the actual contestants-athletes
from 80 nations-who paraded the
arena and tomorrow will begin their
tests of strength and skill
The spectators were as cosmopolitan
Jas the mass of contestants and in the
ranks of the athletes were citizens of
all the countries whose flags, flying
from official. displomatic or consular
boxes, made the scene coIorful
hodgepodge like a warship decked out
with all her pennants
Enemies Barred.
Two flags the German and Aus
trian, which flew over the stadium in
the sixth Olympiad at Stockholm, were
missing and these countries, barred
from participating in the meet, as were
all enemies of the entente powers in
the war, had no representation either
in the arena or in the diplomatic box
les. The Russian flag, also was miss
ing.
The formal ceremonies of opening
the stadium included addresses by .Ge
king of the Belgians, who officially
presented the stadium to Baron Pierre
de Coubertin, president of the Inter-
nation olympic committee and by a
number of other officials of the Bel
gian or Antwerp city government and
Belgian Olympic committees. There
was also tremendously impressive sing
ing by Belgian choral society.
Cheering Continuous.
The cheering was continuous as the
athletes, filing in from the open space
just back Of the stadium where they
had formed, nation by nation, swung
into the arena headed by the members
of the International Olympic commit
tee. They marched in alphabetical or
der, though the Belgians alphabetical
ly first in the list. took last place, cour-
teously, as hosts. This brought Aus
tralia first IN line behind the official
committee.
Each group was preceded by it's
flags, and generally speaking each
group of nationals was uniformly
dressed-not in athletic togs. but in
suits of uniform cut and color. Some,
however, were in army or navy uni
forms. AS they swung by the royal
box where King Albert, Prince Leo
pold and a group of government Off
cials were standing, they saluted the
king. Some Of the athletes paid slml'
lar courtesy to the ambassadors or
ministers of their nations, who had
boxes all around the arena.
Whether it was represented by 35o
athletes, as was France, or only com
narrative handful, as was japan, each
nation participating seemed to have It's
special. clique of partisans in the
stands. Where possible. the spectators
of one nationality had grouped TO-
gether. All of the tourists who. Tor
weeks, have been pouring into Belgium
seemed to be there.
The American athletes. about 3oo
strong. were cheered frequently not
only by their compatriots in the stands
but by the throngs who recognized
that the group marching behind the
stars and Stripes were among the
strong contenders for victory IN the
seventh Olympiad.