When it comes to the "Olympic Games" held in the volunteer camp, we have to talk about it earlier. Since our volunteers entered the DPRK to participate in the war, after the first three battles, the number of captured personnel of the "United Nations Army" has gradually increased. As a result, once Bitong was chosen as the camp site of the volunteer army prison camp, a batch of prisoners of war from the United States, Britain and other countries were transferred here one after another.
The volunteer camp, which has always implemented a lenient policy towards prisoners of war, attaches great importance to the cultural and recreational life of prisoners of war. In May, 1951, the literary and art task force of the volunteer army prison camp was established, and it often toured the prison camp to perform cultural programs such as song and dance, opera, music and magic, and guided and enlivened the cultural activities of the prison camp. Prisoners of war also write and perform their own programs. The extensive development of literary and artistic activities promoted the birth of the prisoner of war club. Clubs have been set up by various prisoner-of-war regiments, teams and squadrons to organize prisoners of war to carry out recreational and sports activities, improve their welfare life and reflect their opinions and demands. At the same time, film teams, reading rooms and wall newspapers? Newspaper garden, cable broadcasting, etc. have also been set up one after another.
The establishment and perfection of these organizations and institutions have laid a solid foundation for developing mass sports among prisoners of war. The POWs' regiments, teams and squadrons also purchased a large number of sports equipment for POWs, and some were made by POWs themselves. 82 sports venues such as basketball, volleyball, football and skating have been built. Prisoners of war are free to participate in various sports activities within the prescribed schedule. Club committees often organize friendship competitions and small-scale sports meetings in basketball, football, volleyball, rugby, table tennis, ice hockey, tennis, tug-of-war and chess. The captive cadre basketball team, attended by Wang Yanggong, director and Wang Naiqing, section chief of the volunteer army, often plays with the prisoner basketball team, and the scene is fierce and friendly. In summer, prisoners of war can swim in the Yalu River and fish by the river. In winter, you can skate and play ice hockey on the river. When the prisoners of war were engaged in these outdoor activities, there were no sentries to follow them. As long as it meets the requirements and ensures safety, there is no limit. In this regard, the prisoners of war were very moved and very satisfied.
With the improvement of material living conditions, the development of mass sports activities, and the harassment of American Air Force planes, the security has been guaranteed, which makes the prison camp have the conditions to hold a large-scale sports meeting. The leaders of the Volunteers' Prison Administration fully considered the opinions and demands of the POW Club Committee and approved to hold a large-scale sports meeting in Bitong, the residence of the 5th POW Regiment, from November 15 to 27, 1952.
the preparatory Committee for the sports meeting was set up quickly. The Preparatory Committee focuses on captive cadres and selects prisoners of war who are experienced in sports events to participate. The first issue discussed at the first meeting of the Preparatory Committee was the name of the Games. Some say it's called "Bitong Games", while others say it's called "Prisoner Camp Games". Reggie, a black prisoner of war, said that the Games will be attended by prisoners of war athletes from more than 1 countries, just like a large-scale international event, which is called "Chinese people's Volunteer Army Bitong Prison Camp Olympic Games"! The participants applauded unanimously, so the name of the sports meeting was decided.
the organizing Committee also decided to set up four groups, namely, logistics, competition, referee and secretary, which are responsible for the preparation. After nearly two months of careful preparation, everything was ready and the sports meeting was held as scheduled. Five prisoner-of-war regiments and two prisoner-of-war teams all elected sports teams, and more than 5 prisoners-of-war athletes from 14 countries and regions participated. This is an unprecedented sports meeting, a special sports meeting and a unique sports meeting. Everything is done according to the pattern of the International Olympic Games.
The sports meeting venue is located in the playground of Bitong Middle School. The emblem of the sports meeting is hung above the huge colored door tied up by pine and cypress branches, and a dove of peace is flying on it. Below is a huge plaque of "The Gate of Peace" written in Chinese, Korean and English. In Bitong City, colorful flags fluttered in the wind and people were beaming. What a festive scene.
A grand opening ceremony was held at the sports conference. The chairman of the presidium of the conference was personally chaired by Wang Yanggong, director of the Volunteer Prison Administration. Music such as "March of Friendship" and "Defending World Peace" were played on the sports field. Athletes and referees marched into the stadium. Willis Si Tong Jr., an American prisoner of war, ran into the meeting with a torch and presented it to Wang Yanggong, president of the conference. President Wang Yanggong lit the torch on the rostrum. The Olympic five-ring flag is raised in Ran Ran on the sports ground. Subsequently, the athletes and referees held an oath ceremony. The opening ceremony ended and the competitions officially began. Everything went according to the plan in an orderly way.
27 events including track and field, ball games, gymnastics, boxing, wrestling and tug-of-war were held in the sports meeting. Water sports cannot be held because there are no swimming pools and other facilities. There are 359 prisoners of war athletes who participate in basketball, volleyball, football, softball and rugby, among which most are American prisoners of war, and their performances on the field are the most outstanding. There are 29 referees, timekeepers and starters. There were 22 prisoners of war who participated in cultural performances. The cheering squad of 26 prisoners of war kept beating gongs and drums, shouting and cheering.
After 12 days of intense and enthusiastic competition, the 5th POW Regiment won the first place in the overall team score, the 1st POW Regiment won the second place, and the 3rd POW Regiment won the third place. The first individual total score is Delma G Miller, who won the all-around champion, the steeplechase champion and the first pole vault. Norman Crawford finished second in personal total score, and he won the second place in all-around, the first place in bagging, the second place in 1-meter running and the third place in long jump. He is also the coach and captain of the football team in the prison camp. The third place in personal total score is Anthony P. Eagles, who won the third place in all-around, the champion of long jump and the champion of 4-meter running.
At the end of the competition, a grand award ceremony was held. The prizes are cloisonne vases, silk umbrellas, sandalwood fans, jade necklaces, scarves, handkerchiefs and other exquisite handicrafts purchased from Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang and other places. These prizes cost a total of 6 million yuan (old money), about 6, yuan. Every winner got a prize, and every athlete who participated in the competition also got a souvenir and a medal.