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British Empire set out to revival. He and the Swedish
organize it. In the first Games Government had – unlike
of the modern Olympics, the British government
anyone – or perhaps more – provided substantial
accurately, any sporting subsidies to send the third
man (Baron de Coubertin, largest national team to
the “father” of the Olympic London for the 1908 Games.
movement, did not approve And, Prince Gustavo, an
of women performing in honored guest of the British
public sporting contests) – King and Queen, was
who had the private means among the royal party
to turn up at the venue in the royal box.
could put himself down
to compete. The Prince was polite in front
of his royal hosts about the
It was, perhaps unfortunate, omission of his national flag.
therefore, that in the rush
to prepare the White City The American Committee,
stadium for the King’s arrival however, suspected a
to open the Games on the deliberate insult. They
afternoon of Monday, July produced their own Stars
13th, 1908, the national flags and Stripes and had it run up
run up the poles included the pole. The Swedes had to
those of Japan and China make do with the single flag
(neither of which would carried before their team
send representatives to the in the parade.
Olympic games for some
years yet), but omitted those The parade climaxed
of Sweden and the United with the massed ranks of
States of America. athletes behind their
flagbearers facing the
The Crown Prince of Sweden, royal box. With a fanfare
president of the Swedish from the trumpeters of
Amateur Athletic Association, the Life Guards, the flags
had been a key supporter were dipped to salute King
of the Olympics since their Edward VII; every flag, that is,
36 Reader's Book
