1912 Olympic Games Official Report Part 2

By the efforts of the Entertainment Committee, a concert wasgiven at the Stadium on the evening of July 6, by the massedmilitary bands of the city, in which 300 performers from twelvedifferent bands took part. The arrangements were made by theStockholm division of the Swedish Musicians’ Association, under thepatronage of H. R. H. the Crown Prince. Swedish composers alonewere represented on the programme. The audience was a very goodone, and warmly applauded the performance.This concert, the success of which was due in no small degree tothe excellent acoustic properties of the Stadium, was the greatest ofits kind that had ever been held in Sweden.On the evening of July 9, the band of the Royal Grenadier Guardsplayed at the Stadium, Sub-lieutenant Gustaf Björkquist being theconductor. The reason of this concert being given was to allow peoplewho had no opportunity of visiting the athletic grounds during theday, to see the place at their ease on the payment of a verysmall sum.On Friday, 12 July, there was a grand review of Swedish BoyScouts at the Stadium. At 7.30 p.m., Swedish, Danish, Norwegianand German boy scouts marched past amid the lively applause of thesightseers, the review following immediately afterwards.Open Air Entertainments.Following the traditions with regard to the arrangements made toamuse the public on the occasion of exhibitions, rifle meetings, etc.,the Committee made it an item of its programme to arrange pleasuregardens, etc., in the neighbourhood of the Stadium. It can easilybe understood that, for the short time that the Games lasted, therecould be no possibility of any extensive or expensive arrangementsbeing made anything like the immense and costly establishmentson the continent, but everything was to be of a provisional character,the principal features being a dancing platform, roundabouts, etc.Through the complaisance of the military authorities and the DjurgårdPark Board, it was found possible to arrange the gardens inquestion at a suitable spot near the harbour of Värtan. After theplace had been drained and covered with gravel, there were erecteda large restaurant, dancing platforms, a marionette theatre, switchbacksand other simple attractions, the whole being given the titleof “Olympia”. The price of admission was 3 d. (c:a 6 cents).There were crowds of sightseers the whole of the time the place wasopen and, during the short period of its existence, it was visited byabout 30,000 persons.A considerable part of the receipts was paid over to the SwedishCommittee for the Olympic Games.Special arrangements made by Public Institutions.A number of public institutions made special arrangements in connectionwith the great event in the world of athletics.828