| II Asian Games |
Logo of the 1954 Asian Games |
| Nations participating |
19 |
| Athletes participating |
970 |
| Events |
8 sports |
| Opening ceremony |
May 1 |
| Closing ceremony |
May 9 |
| Officially opened by |
President Ramon Magsaysay |
| Athlete's Oath |
Martin Gison |
| Judge's Oath |
Antonio delas Alas [1] |
| Torch Lighter |
Enriquito Beech [2] |
| Main Stadium |
Rizal Memorial Stadium |
The 1954 Asian Games (officially known as the Second Asian Games – Manila 1954) was a mult-sport event celebrated in Manila, Philippines from May 1 to May 9, 1954. A total of 970 athletes from 19 Asian National Olympic Committees (NOCs) competed in 76 events from eight sports. The number of participating NOCs and athletes was than the previous Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1951. This edition of the games has a different twist where it did not implement a medal tally system to determine the overall champion but a pointing system. The pointing system is a complex system where each athlete were given points according to their achievement like position in athletics or in swimming. In the end the pointing system showed to be worthless as it simply ranked the nations the same way in the medal tally system. The pointing system was not implemented in future games eversince.[3] Jorge B. Vargas was the head of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (In 1976, was renamed as Philippine Olympic Committee) and the Manila Asian Games Organizing Committee. With the second place finish of the Philippines, only around 9,000 spectators attend the closing ceremony at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.[4] The events were broadcast on radio live at DZRH and DZAQ-TV ABS-3 on delayed telecast.
Location of Manila in Philippines.
[edit] Opening ceremony
The Games were formally opened by President Ramon Magsaysay on May 1, 1954 at 16:02 local time. Around 20,000 spectators fill the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Malate, Manila for the opening ceremony. As requested by the IOC, the torch relay and lighting of the couldron were excluded from the Opening Ceremony to preserve the tradition of the Olympic Games. The torch ceremony were returned at the 1958 Asian Games. The host however gave a solution by giving a special citation to the last athlete to enter the parade. The Philippines, as host, was the last country to enter the stadium. The flag bearer for the Philippines squad was Andres Franco, who won a gold medal in the 1951 Asian Games in high jump event, the sole gold medal of any Filipino in the athletics events of the previous Asian Games.[5][6]
[edit] Sports
The 1954 Asian Games featured eight sports divided into 10 events, aquatics included three events namely diving, swimming and water polo. This version of the Asian Games comprised more sports and events than the last one, as six sports and seven events were in the calender of 1951 Asian Games. Three sports—boxing, shooting and wrestling—made their debut, while cycling was dropped out.[7]
[edit] Participating NOCs
National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are named and arranged according to their official IOC country codes and designations at the time.
- Non-Competing nations
Only one country just sent officials.
[edit] Medal tally
Japan led the medal table, athletes from Japan won most medals, including most gold, silver and bronze. Host nation, Philippines finished second with 45 total medals (including 14 gold).[8]
The top ten ranked NOCs at these Games are listed below. The host nation, Philippines, is highlighted.
[edit] References
- ^ Not formally named as Judge's Oath, it was a tradition then when an officiating representative (Judge) of the host nation formally approach the Head of State to read a statement from the Sport Officers and to request the Head of State to formally open the games.
- ^ As requested by the IOC, the torch relay and lighting of the couldron were excluded from the Opening Ceremony to preserve the tradition of the Olympic Games. The torch ceremony were returned at the 1958 Asian Games. The host however gave a solution by giving a special citation to the last athlete to enter the parade. The Philippines, as host, was the last country to enter the stadium.
- ^ Manila Times May 9, 1954
- ^ Manila Times May 10, 1954
- ^ Manila Times May 2, 1954
- ^ "Asian Games – Men – High jump". gbrathletics.com. Athletics Weekly. http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/asg.htm. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
- ^ "Report of the First Asian Games held at New Delhi". la84foundation.org. LA84 Foundation. http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1951/BDCE27/BDCE27r.pdf. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
- ^ "Overall medal standings – Manila 1954". ocasia.org. Olympic Council of Asia. http://www.ocasia.org/Game/MWinner.aspx?AMWCode=6&GCode=1. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
Japan (JPN)
Philippines (PHI)*
South Korea (KOR)
Pakistan (PAK)
India (IND)
Republic of China (ROC)
Israel (ISR)
Burma (BIR)
Singapore (SIN)
Ceylon (CEY)
