Thread by @Paperclip_In

The forgotten carpenter from Melbourne who gave birth to an enduring Olympic tradition: The Olympic Games are the biggest sporting spectacle in the world. Apart from showcasing sporting excellence, the Games also convey the message of brotherhood (1/n)

But there are times when political tensions have overshadowed this sense of unity and brotherhood. One such instance was at Melbourne during the 1956 Summer Olympics. Even before the start, the event got mired in political currents (2/n)

Egypt decided to boycott the event in response to the Suez Crisis. Iraq, Cambodia & Lebanon joined it. In Europe, Netherlands, Spain & Switzerland opted to boycott as a mark of protest against the brutal suppression of the Hungarian revolt by the USSR (3/n)

China also boycotted the event because Taiwan was allowed to compete. The USSR/Hungary issue boiled over to the sporting arena when the two nations clashed in a water polo match where players came to blow and riots broke out (4/n)

This match, dubbed "Blood in the Water match" saw Hungarian player Ervin Zador left with a bloody face due to being punched by a Russian rival. All these left John Ian Wing, a 17-year old carpenter from Melbourne deeply disturbed & agitated (5/n)

He wrote an anonymous letter to the Olympic Organizing Committee. The letter suggested that to promote more bonding and unity among the participants, the athletes be encouraged to walk together in the closing ceremony (6/n)

The goal for the final parade, the letter said, should be for the athletes to walk together — as "only one nation." W.S. Kent Hughes, chairman of the Melbourne organizing committee liked the idea (7/n)

Just a day ahead of the closing ceremony, the plan was made for participants from all nations to walk in together, mingling with one another, sans the rigid regimentation that was the norm earlier (8/n)

The idea was universally loved and became an Olympic norm going forward. Wing had chosen not to give his identity in the letter as he feared that the idea may be seen as "daft." Thus his identity remained a secret for nearly thirty years (9/n)

Later, as the idea became immensely popular, he dared not to reveal himself as the source for fear of being ridiculed. He had written a separate note to Hughes sharing his identity but requesting to keep it a secret (10/n)

When Wing's identity was finally revealed, he was honored with an Olympic bronze medal in recognition of his contribution. A street at the site of the 2000 Summer Olympics at Sydney was named John Ian Wing Parade in his honor (11/n)

Thanks & Acknowledgements: npr.org/sections/tokyo…