1912 Olympic Games Official Report Part 2 - LA84 Foundation

nearest to the wall close to the entrance. Each piste and the fittings
belonging to it was of a special colour (blue, yellow, red and white)
so that the competitors might more easily find their places.
The interior of the hall was decorated with a bust of H. M. the
King, surrounded by the standard of Sweden and those of the other
competing nations interwoven with green garlands, the whole offering
a very inviting appearance with these simple, yet richly coloured decorations.
Nowadays the wish is generally expressed to have the épée- and
sabre competitions as much as possible in the open air, but when
arranging such competitions, it is necessary to be certain of having a
roof above one’s head to be able to feel sure that the events in question
can be completed.
The épée competition of the Modern Pentathlon, however, realized
the first of these wishes, as it was fought out on the new out-of-doors
tennis courts, which, without any very special preparations, satisfied all
the demands made on first class fencing-grounds. The only thing
wanted to make this competition a success was fine weather, and this
we enjoyed, with brilliant sunshine and southern warmth.
As far as regards the arrangements necessary for the personal convenience
of the competitors, such as dressing-rooms, lavatories etc.
those already existing in the tennis pavilion proved quite sufficient
and satisfactory.
After the list of entries of the competitors who were going to take
part in the various competitions was definitely fixed, each man’s place
in the eliminating rounds of the first series was determined by the
drawing of lots immediately before the arrival of the competitors.
This was done in accordance with the regulations.
The drawing for this first round is given at the beginning of the
report of every special competition. It can be seen there, too, how
the winners in this round (italicized) take part in the rounds of the
next series (shown by a Roman figure after the name). The groups
in which the competitors were, placed were decided by the drawing of
lots at the Secretariat, care being taken to have as few competitors
as possible belonging to the same nation opposed to each other, and
also that those competitors who had already met should, in the next
round, compete with new men.
Immediately after the finish of a series, those competitors that were
to take part in a second were given a card, issued by the Secretariat,
by the aid of which and of the time-table already mentioned, the
competitor at once knew the hour when he should next present himself.
The colour of the card agreed with that of the piste where the
event was to take place.
These arrangements, which were quite new of their kind, proved
to be very practical ones, much questioning being thus made quite
unnecessary, for each competitor had a printed notice of the hours
when his presence was required, and he could spend his leisure
time without any fear of coming too late to a competition.
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