âThe Closing Ceremony took place on 11th September in the Olympic Stadium, immediately after the conclusion of the Grand Prix Team Jumping Event, the last of all the Olympic events.
All 84 flags of the Countries present at the Games took part in the marchpast,
these being carried by athletes chosen by the individual Heads of Mission.
The flags were preceded by a placard showing the Country, which was
carried by a pupil of the Higher Institute of Physical Education. Alongside
the flagpole upon which the Olympic flag was hoisted, stood a picket of sailors
in blue uniform; it was the same picket that had worn a white uniform during
the Inauguration Ceremony.
The long procession of flagbearers, having marched past at a pace of 120
steps per minute, lined up in rows parallel to the Tribune of Honour, in the same
positions which they had already occupied in the course of the Inaugural Ceremony.
The march-past of the flags was accompanied by the playing of a number
of marches executed by the Bands of the Carabinieri Police, of the Italian Air
Force, of the Finance Guards and the Public Security Police. Meanwhile, on the
indicator board appeared the words:â « Citius, Altius, Fortius ».
Upon conclusion of the march-past, three flags, that of Greece to the right,
Italy in the centre, and to the left, that of Japan, to whom the organisation of
the XVIII Olympic Games has been entrusted, were hoisted on three flagpoles.
As each flag in turn was hoisted, the National Anthem of the respective
Nation was played.
Brundage's Invitation.
At the command « Flags Forward », the flagbearers moved from their positions
and gathered in a semicircle on either side of the podium.
The President of the IO, Mr. Avery Brundage, walked up to the podium
and pronounced the formula of Closing of the Games with the following
words: « In the name of the International Olympic Committee, after offering the
President of the Italian Republic, the Hon. Giovanni Gronchi and the Italian
people, the Authorities of the City of Rome and the Organizers, the tribute of our
profound gratitude, we proclaim the Games of the XVII Olympiad closed. In
accordance with tradition, we invite the youth of all Nations to meet in four years'
time in the city of Tokyo, there to celebrate with us the Games of the XVIII Olympiad.
May these take place in joy and concord, so that the Olympic Flame can
continue to play its part throughout the centuries for the good of humanity in a
manner ever more eager, courageous, and loyal ».
The words of the President of the IOC were marked by a triple fanfare
of trumpets.
The extinguishing of the Olympic Flame was announced by a group of 10
« Faithful Followers of Vitorchiano » with silver trumpets who lined up on either
side of the brazier and three times sounded the Olympic leit-motif, the joyful
fanfare played throughout all the ceremonies.
Immediately afterwards, all the lights in the stadium were extinguished.
Meanwhile, as the Olympic Flame, which for 18 days had kindled the hopes
and victories of thousands of athletes, slowly flickered out against the sky,
the Choir of Santa Cecilia, accompanied by the Band of the Carabinieri Police,
sang the Olympic Hymn.
Successively, the Olympic Flag, which had been hoisted on the top righthand
side of the stadium ever since the Opening of the Games, was slowly
lowered by four sailors. At the same time, five cannon salvoes were fired from
the slopes of Monte Mario.
Behind the tripod, now extinguished, five searchlights sprang to life directing
their light into the sky. Then came the time, in the darkness of the stadium,
for thousands of torches to light up amongst the crowd, giving the impression
of a gigantic torchlight parade.
« Arrivederci a Tokyo »â¢
Rome, who had striven during the Games to identify her possibilities with
the modernity of her sports installations, and appear young with the young
people gathered there, fresh and welcoming, laying on one side momentarily
the glory of her age-old memories, once the Closing Ceremony was over seemed
to lose her Olympic aspect. But while the deep emotion caused at the extinction
of the Flame and the sadness at the imminence of the end of the Games
was still strong in the minds of all present, as if in comfort and reassurance,
the words « Arrivederci a Tokyo nel 1964 » (We meet again at Tokyo in 1964)
were flashed on to the vast luminous indicator-board.
The message was greeted with a terrific burst of applause from the
crowd who understood that the close of one Olympiad does not mean the
end of an epoch, but rather the opening of another, ever more joyful and
brilliant.â
Loading...
7:09
Opening 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italyby benderballs893,178 views
Read all about this ceremony & others in the bigger, better, sexier 2012 edition of the book, SECRETS OF THE OLYMPIC CEREMONIES by Myles Garcia, now out and available on amazon. It spills all the secrets on how these shows (from Berlin 1936 to Vancouver 2010) are put together. With over 150 photos and images, many of them never before published. Check out the website—secretolympiceremony
mylesag2 2 days ago