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The Key West Citizen
Key West, Monroe County, Florida
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Olympic preparations in Melbourne continue despite Communist China's withdrawal over Nationalist Chinese participation; Russian and German teams arrive amid eased tensions, echoing 1952 Helsinki dispute.
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Olympic Plans
By WILL GRIMSLEY
MELBOURNE, Australia ( ) - Preparations for the Olympic games proceeded at full blast Wednesday, unaffected by the announcement Communist China was withdrawing its team because of the presence of a Nationalist Chinese group from Formosa.
The chief executive officer, Sir William Bridgeford, reiterated the games will not be endangered unless there is a general world war.
Actually, tensions eased considerably, with the first Russian delegation ensconced at the Olympic village of Heidelberg and holding workouts as if unaware of fighting between Hungarian and Russian forces in Hungary. There have been no incidents.
Giant planes continue landing in clusters at Essendon Airport daily, swelling the population of the Olympic village.
The Olympic office has not received official word of the withdrawal from the Communist Chinese group, although it has heard on Peiping radio such notice was being given.
Communist China said it was withdrawing formally on the grounds the Nationalist Chinese group is an "outlaw band" which should not be tolerated. It demanded the Olympic committee recognize only one China - Communist China.
Olympic officials are regretful of the move, but recall a similar incident occurred in the 1952 games at Helsinki. There, Communist and Nationalist Chinese groups battled over recognition and finally Communist China refused to compete. It later sent a token team to Helsinki for appearance sake. Nationalist China also failed to compete through a technicality.
At that time there also was friction between East and West German forces but this has been eased and two planeloads of a combined German team arrived here with a spirit of friendliness.
"We are one team - not feeling of East and West," said the leader of the combined German team Gerhard Stoeck.
The total German team is 220, including officials, of which 37 are from East Germany in the Soviet sphere of influence.
"International tension is high today." Gerhard said. "But the spirit of the Melbourne Olympics can do much to ease it, for there can be no enmity among true sportsmen of any nationality."
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Melbourne, Australia
Event Date
Wednesday
Key Persons
Outcome
communist china withdrawing its team; preparations unaffected; tensions eased with russian and german delegations
Event Details
Preparations for the Olympic games proceeded unaffected by Communist China's withdrawal due to the presence of a Nationalist Chinese group from Formosa. Sir William Bridgeford stated the games will not be endangered unless there is a general world war. Russian delegation arrived and held workouts despite fighting in Hungary. Giant planes landed daily, swelling the Olympic village population. No official word received from Communist China, but heard on Peiping radio. Communist China demanded recognition of only one China. Similar incident in 1952 Helsinki games. Combined German team arrived with friendliness, total 220 including 37 from East Germany.