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Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
6-Nov-2008
Lot No.
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Description:
1956 Melbourne, XVI Summer Olympics: 1956 Olympic Torch, metal, 42 cm tall, legend at top '1956: Olympia - Melbourne: XVI Olympiad'. Provenance: Philip Miskin, the Commandant of the Olympic Village. Extremely rare, the Olympic spirit was beautifully captured by Philip Miskin, the Mayor of the Melbourne Athletes' Village, with the quaint title of Commandant, who had suffered the deprivations of a prisoner on the island of Hainan for three years. He outlined his task more than 50 years ago in terms marked by such a sense of passion and precision that they should be required reading as a mission statement for anyone or any committee planning to bid or host a major event anywhere in the world. This is what he said: 'We Are to Be Hosts to the Young Men and Women of About 70 Nations, Without Distinction of Race, Colour, Politics Or Creed. We Have to Provide Their Accommodation and Training Facilities, and Their Performance Will Depend on the Quality of What We Provide, Their Food, Living Conditions and Leisure Opportunities Must Be the Best That We Can Offer. Moreover, We Must Make No Distinctions Between Any of Them. We Want Them to Give the Best Performances They Are Capable Of. We Want to Be Agents of Good Will to Every One of Them, and When They Leave US, We Want Them All to Be Good Ambassadors For Australia'.
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Memorabilia: Sporting - Olympics and Other Games