The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-28
98 MEDALS. WON BY U.S.. IN MYMPICS Lions Share Of Awards Go To American
 Competitors 15,OO0 ATTEND
 FORMAL CLOSING Baron De Coubertin Con- ducts Final Ceremonies
 At Colornbes SALVO OF 5 GUNS
 MARKS THE END Finland, France And Great Britain Are The Yankees :.
 Strongest Rivals
SALVO OF 5 GUNS
 MARKS THE END
iRx the Associated Pressl

OLYMPIC STADIUM, COLOM- BEES, France, July 27.-The eighth Olympic games, in which the United States scored triumph, came to a formal close this afternoon in the Colombes stadium, where W 8 fought out the main battle for ath- letic supremacy by representatives of 45 nations.
 More than 15,000 persons were present for the closing spectacle, marking the official conclusion of games which had been in progress for more than seven months.
 Ninety-eight of the 361 Olympic med. als awarded this afternoon went to the United States. Prizes were awarded for the first three places in each event, although six places counted in the point scoring.
 One.Thfrd Of Total
 The share of the Americans in the trophies amounted to nearly one-third of the total and comprised prizes for 46 first places, 20 for second place, and 27 for third places. Finland with 37 .firsts, France with 90 and Great Brit ain with 31 were next on the list of the 2T nations which received prizes. South America was represented on the list by Argentina and Urugnay, Argentina second place and ss1o ird places Ufl. guay hatt one first pEaee.
 Today's formalities came as ain anti climax to the main branches of connpe- tition, which concluded a week ago, but they provided spectacle which was interesting as well as fitting. Only a handful of the heroes of the stirring athletic games was on hand when the Olympic victory prizes were awarded to the 27 nations and fully half of these were Americans, who were accorded an ovation when the gray-haired veteran of sports, Colonel R. I. Thompson, re- ceived from Baron Pierre De Couber- tin, president of the international com mittee, the lions share of the laurels which had been won by competitors rep resenting the United States.
 Formally Closed
 The official pronunciamento of Ba- ron De Coubertin closing the Olympic games was followed by a sAlvo of five guns and appropriate music by band and choir. Coming at the conclusion of the picturesque equestrian sport, the closing ceremonies also were par ticipated in by the competitors in these, and brilliantly uniformed bugle corps of the republican guards.
 The American delegation was by far the largest and most representative, The Stars and Stripes were borne by Clarence Houser, University of South ern California, the shot put and discus champion. Other notable Olympic per formers in the procession included Jack son V. Scholz, New York A. C., the 2O0-meter champion F.. D. Totell, Bos- ton A. A., the hammer throw king, and Francis Hussey, the New York school boy sprinter who helped the American 4OO-meter relay team set q worlds rec ord.
 To Keep Flag
 At the conclusion of the ceremonies the Olympic flag was turned over to the custody of the city of Paris, which will retain it for four years and then hand it over to the Dutch authorities to be used in the 1928 games in Am sterdam,
 Standing out at the background of the spectacular competition during the games is the record-breaking track and field battle, in which Finland's little band of stars, headed by. Paavo Nurmi and Willie Ritola, took a majority share of t6e>track glory and gave the United States the strongest fight for points it's team ever had. But the American teams strength, particularly in the field events, proved the deciding factor, while in the other branches of competition, notably tennis, rowing swimming, lowing and wrestling, the United States gained lauRela that eclipsed those of any rival.