Page 167 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2015-16

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In this Olympic year of 2016 I thought it appropriate to include an extract from the 1937 edition of the MBS which I hope will give the reader a avour of the 1936 Olympics and a realisation of how far we have come in terms of organisation and size of the games as we know them today.
Extract From Edition No 17 of the MBS –1937
THE OLYMPIC GAMES, BERLIN, 1936
By Lieu-Colonel T H Wand-Tetley, OBE, Commandant, Army School of Physical Training
THE OPENING OF THE GAMES
The of cials and competitors of the fty nations competing embussed at the Olympic Village at 1.15 pm and proceeded to the Reichssportfeld. As we approached it was interesting to notice the airship Hindenburg cruising overhead.
All nations were assembled in the Maifold (Polo ground) where we were formed up according to a plan issued previously and given a little practice for the march past. At 3.55 pm Herr Hitler arrived at the polo ground. Followed by the members of the International Olympic Committee he passed between the lines of the competitors and of cials and entered the Stadium by the Marathon Gate at 4 pm. We heard the tremendous reception he was accorded at the opening and later we remarked on the sincerity of the welcome afforded to Herr Hitler whenever he arrived at the stadium and the remarkable effect of his presence in stimulating the German competitors to win Olympic laurels.
At 4.15 pm the National competitors and of cials entered the Stadium, marching past in alphabetical order (according to German spelling) except Greece who, as the original Olympic nation, were given the honour of leading and Germany as the home team came last. Each national group saluted the Reich’s Chancellor according to the custom of its country and the public rose as the National Flags were borne round the Arena before taking their post in the centre of the ground. The British team saluted with eyes right.
The ceremony proceeded along much the same lines as at previous Olympic Games, but in comparison with those I took part in in 1920 at Antwerp and in 1928 at Amsterdam, I consider
the 1936 opening to have been more spectacular owing to the following emotional stimulants:-
Rousing welcome to Herr Hitler by an immense crowd and presentation of an olive branch to him by the elderly Louis, winner of the Marathon Race in 1896, who was dressed in the attractive Greek National Costume.
Playing of the Olympic Fanfare of 1936 by trumpeters as Herr Hitler entered the Stadium; raising of the ags of all participating nations on the various ag staffs at the stadium; raising of the Olympic Flag on the main agpole, followed by the ringing of the Olympic Bell, heralding the opening of the games; the ring of twenty one guns in salute and release of thousands of pigeons.
Then the dramatic spectacle of all, the nal phase of bringing the Olympic ame from Greece. The last of the torch bearers, a fair haired, slim young man dressed in white running kit appeared silhouetted between the portals of the Eastern gateway. He carried the torch down the steps along the track and up the Western steps, where he stood for a second before lighting the Olympic re in the large brazier.
The Olympic Oath which was taken as usual by a competitor of the home nation. This was followed by the playing of the beautiful new Olympic Hymn composed and conducted by Richard Strauss and magni cently sung by a choir of a thousand men and women who made a square of white on the far side of the stadium.
The march out of the teams and the departure of Herr Hitler completed the ceremony.
Between the months of Feb - Oct 15, I was deployed on Operation TORAL, Afghanistan, as a Female PTI Mentor.
I was stationed at Camp Qargha which is situated 8km outside of the capital city Kabul and is home to elements of Resolute Support Command (RSC). The RSC main effort is to provide training, advice and assistance for the Afghan Security Forces (ASF) and institutions as well as counter-terror and combat.
Part of the ASF is the ANAOA. Funded by the
British and American government and supported by the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), the ANAOA is staffed by advisers from the U.K. and supported by mentors from Norway, Denmark Australia and New Zealand.
The ANAOA which has been modelled on the RMAS Syllabus has an ever evolving G7 department, comprising of all training aspects including PD. In the earlier days of the ANAOA, the PT wing was initially housed within a tented site and relied heavily on the infrastructure of outside military establishment but in 2015, the ANAOA was re-located to a new phase 3 site, this included
a newly built gymnasium, obstacle course and a number of sport pitches, which thankfully didn’t need watering.
The PT lessons were met with enthusiasm and the Of cer Cadets (Ocdts) favoured both the PT and sport lessons above any others. The President Sword competitions, which replicated both the Flag and Sovereigns Banner competitions, ran with minimal assistance. Equipment was limited but competitions still went ahead, with the OC of the PT Wing, Capt Nazeer, following closely behind on his prized
possession, his ‘motorbike’.
Like any job there are always frustrations and being at the ANAOA was no different, little things like explaining to an instructor that a toggle is used to carry the log and not for spurring on the OCdts was sometimes required but on a whole, they were receptive to your guidance and advise. The main challenge was getting to know your team, their religious and ethical beliefs and realising quickly that you were not there to change the world and that this is an organisation attempting to stand on their own two feet and we were there to support and guide where we could.
OP TORAL
SSgt (SSI) V H Blackburn RAPTC