Thread: the great 1956 Sydney olympic torch hoax

It was a protest by Uni students over the fact the Nazis started the Olympic torch run in 1936, and they didn't think it appropriate for Australia in 1956. Not many people remember that the IOC almost took the games off Melbourne, because the venues were no where near ready when the IOC came to look before the games. There were 7 cities in the USA that wanted the games , with L.A. the most advanced in preparation. Bob


The Olympic Underwear Relay, 1956

Your post stirred something that had been in the deep, dark recesses of my memory for some time and I was tempted to ask if someone could confirm my recollection.

However, I did some research of my own and found that my memory was indeed reliable on this occasion.

It seems that in recent Olympic torch relays, it helped a lot if you were some sort of minor celebrity. It also seems that all sorts of minority groups have to be represented among the runners.

My recollection was that back in 1956, in keeping with the athletic nature of the event it preceded, the torch relay runners had to meet a minimum standard.

For almost 60 years I have believed that in order to be part of the torch relay, you had to be able to run a mile in 6 minutes. I have just discovered that was indeed the performance expected of torch bearers. Although that was only true for NSW and Victoria. Queesland runners were able to dawdle along at a slightly slower pace.

In view of the climatic conditions varying from tropical to temperate, the times allowed a mile were :-North Queensland-7 minutes, South Queensland-6½ minutes, New South Wales and Victoria-6 minutes.
Torch Olympic Games 1956 Melbourne

Now it seems that some minor celebrity will be chosen ahead of an amateur athlete to carry the Olympic torch.