Robert Chisholm (sports administrator)
Encyclopedia
Robert “George” Chisholm was an Australian sports administrator. He was the manager of the Australian teams that competed at the 1952
and 1956 Winter Olympics
.
Australia had first competed at the 1936 Olympics before the Second World War, when one athlete participated without support staff. Australia did not compete in 1948 after the resumption of the Olympics and in 1952, support staff were present for the first time; Chisholm was the first manager of an Australian Winter Olympic team. He oversaw three figure skaters, three alpine skiers and two cross country skiers in Oslo
, Norway
. All finished in the bottom half of their events and seven finished in the bottom 20%.Gordon (1994), p. 522.’’The Compendium, pp. 209–210. The lack of administrative attention was highlighted when Chisholm incorrectly declared that the campaign was Australia's first at the Winter Olympics.
Chisholm returned to lead the team to Cortina D'Ampezzo
in Italy
. Chisholm again mistakenly noted in his official report that it was Australia's second participation, forgetting the delegations sent in 1936. There were ten athletes in total; five alpine skiers, four figure skaters and a solitary long track speed skater. Colin Hickey
, a "rink rat" who was overlooked for ice hockey when he was young because of his small frame, came seventh in the 500 and 1000 metres speed skating, on his second Olympic campaign. However, the others all finished in the bottom half of their events, while the pairs figure skating combination of Mervyn Bower
and Jacqueline Mason
failed to take to the ice after Bower was injured.Gordon, p. 522.
1952 Winter Olympics
The 1952 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VI Olympic Winter Games, took place in Oslo, Norway, from 14 to 25 February 1952. Discussions about Oslo hosting the Winter Olympic Games began as early as 1935; the city wanted to host the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible...
and 1956 Winter Olympics
1956 Winter Olympics
The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This celebration of the Games was held from 26 January to 5 February 1956. Cortina, which had originally been awarded the 1944 Winter Olympics, beat out...
.
Australia had first competed at the 1936 Olympics before the Second World War, when one athlete participated without support staff. Australia did not compete in 1948 after the resumption of the Olympics and in 1952, support staff were present for the first time; Chisholm was the first manager of an Australian Winter Olympic team. He oversaw three figure skaters, three alpine skiers and two cross country skiers in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. All finished in the bottom half of their events and seven finished in the bottom 20%.Gordon (1994), p. 522.’’The Compendium, pp. 209–210. The lack of administrative attention was highlighted when Chisholm incorrectly declared that the campaign was Australia's first at the Winter Olympics.
Chisholm returned to lead the team to Cortina D'Ampezzo
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Cortina d'Ampezzo is a town and comune in the southern Alps located in Veneto, a region in Northern Italy. Located in the heart of the Dolomites in an alpine valley, it is a popular winter sport resort known for its ski-ranges, scenery, accommodations, shops and après-ski scene...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Chisholm again mistakenly noted in his official report that it was Australia's second participation, forgetting the delegations sent in 1936. There were ten athletes in total; five alpine skiers, four figure skaters and a solitary long track speed skater. Colin Hickey
Colin Hickey
Colin Edward Hickey was an Australian speed skater. He represented Australia at the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Winter Olympics. His seventh place in the 1956 Winter Olympics was Australia's best result until 1976....
, a "rink rat" who was overlooked for ice hockey when he was young because of his small frame, came seventh in the 500 and 1000 metres speed skating, on his second Olympic campaign. However, the others all finished in the bottom half of their events, while the pairs figure skating combination of Mervyn Bower
Mervyn Bower
Mervyn John Bower is a former Australian pair skater who competed at the 1956 and 1960 Winter Olympics in a pairing with Jacqueline Mason. In 1956 they failed to take to the ice after Bower was injured.Gordon, p. 522. In 1960, they placed 12th out of 13 duos.-Results:- References :*...
and Jacqueline Mason
Jacqueline Mason
Jacqueline "Jackie" Mason Kendall-Baker is a former Australian pair skater who competed at the 1956 and 1960 Winter Olympics in a pairing with Mervyn Bower. In 1956 they failed to take to the ice after Bower was injured.Gordon, p. 522. In 1960, they placed 12th out of 13 duos.-Results:- References...
failed to take to the ice after Bower was injured.Gordon, p. 522.