Evening star., 1960-08-21
OLYMPICS
Continued From Page FL

states would cost several times
that sum.
Unlike 1908, the Italian
Olympic Committee now has
plenty Of money-largely be-
cause of q weekly soccer betting
pool it runs.
No expense has been spared.
Benito Mussollni, Italy's Fas-
cist dictator, dreamed of stag
ing the Olympic Games. He
started building an Olympic
stadium. World War II halted
construction. Republican Italy
finished it-and went a lot
further.
Italians Covet Prestige
Republican Italy even has
drawn criticism from some
newspapers abroad that it was
wasting money on the Olympics
Just to gain prestige. while
thousands of Italians were un-
employed.
The Italian countered that
the nations booming economy
is taking care of unemployed
as fast as possible. AS for pres
tlge. Italians made no secret
that they hoped to gain a lot
of it from the Olympics.
Pride is not limited to sport
fans. Government officials take
satisfaction in their massive
effort of organization for the
Games. Intellectuals beam at
the ARCHITECTURAL gems of the
Olympics, the work of two of
1taly's leading architects, Pier
Luigi Nervi and the late Mar
cello Piacentini.
Everyone else making a con-
tribution toward the Games
also is proud: The military who
equipped the Olympic village
with furniture for the 1000
athletes. the composers and
poets who wrote special Olym-
pic songs, the sculptors who
created statues for the Stadi-
un1s and medals for the victors,
the tailors and couturiers who
designed the snappy uniforms
Olympic officials and hostesses
wear.
There is hardly a Roman who
does not feel that in some way
he has done something for the
Games. Some are leaving their
cars at home to try to ease the
Olympic-sized traffic jams.
Others put extra flower pots in
b their windows and on their ter
races to make the city a prettier
place for visitors. Most Romans
went without water for days in
hot June while special Olympic
hydraulic installations were put
in operation.
Variety of Stadiums
The Olympic Stadium, with
100000 capacity, is the main
sports site. But these other
new stadiumS have also been
built:
An Olympic velodrome, for
bicycle events, seating 10000.
A little sports palace" for
basketball, boxing and wrestl-
ing. seating $500.
A big sports palace" also
for basketball and boxing, seat
ing $4,000.
The Flaminio Stadium. for
soccer, capacity $4,000.
Swimming pools, practice
fields and several existing sports
facilities all have been pressed
into service. making all Rome
a vast sports center.
The stadiums and arenas cost
$32 million by Italian reckon
ing. but to reproduce them in
the United States probably
would run $100 million.
Two of the city's ancient
ruins-the 'Basilica of Maxen-
thus and the Baths of Caracala
dating back TOO years-will be
used for the Olympic wrestling
and gymnastic events.
Olympic grunts and groans
were even expected from the
ancient Colosseum, a reminder
of the days of the Gladiators.
But architects said it would be
too difficult to erect stands
among the ruins.
Marathon runners on Sep
tember 10-closing date of the
games-will race along the ia
nous Appian Way. Crowds
once cheered chariot racers of
ancient Rome along the same
road.
Reporters Number 1900
Rowing and canoeing events
will be held on Lake Albano,
IS miles south of Rome. Yacht
ing will be staged in the Gulf
of Naples, more than 100 miles
away.
But Rome is the heart of the
Olympics.
It has the main stadiums
and it has the Olympic Village,
EUmzn1...z.sazasa.as.