1954 Asian Games
Encyclopedia
The 1954 Asian Games 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. 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
. The events were broadcast on radio live at DZRH
and DZAQ-TV ABS-3
on delayed telecast.
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.
. Three sports—boxing
, shooting and wrestling
—made their debut, while cycling
was dropped out.
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.
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).
The top ten ranked NOCs at these Games are listed below. The host nation, Philippines, is highlighted.
Multi-sport event
A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports between organized teams of athletes from nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of international significance was the modern Olympic Games.Many...
celebrated in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
from May 1 to May 9, 1954. A total of 970 athletes from 19 Asian
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
National Olympic Committees (NOCs) competed in 76 events from eight sports
Asian Games sports
This is a list of sports played in the Asian Games and other major affiliated games organised by the Olympic Council of Asia. On 29 June 2009, the OCA announced major changes to the event lists in the five major events, in particular aiming to restrict each sport to be played in not more than one...
. The number of participating NOCs and athletes was than the previous Asian Games held in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
in 1951
1951 Asian Games
The 1951 Asian Games, officially known as the First Asian Games, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Delhi, India from 4 to 11 March 1951. The Games received names like First Asiad and 1951 Asiad by the president of the organising committee Anthony de Mello...
. 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. Jorge B. Vargas
Jorge B. Vargas
Jorge B. Vargas was a lawyer and youth advocate born in Bago City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. He graduated valedictorian from Negros Occidental High School in 1909 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1911 and a Bachelor of Law degree with honors in 1914, both from the University of the...
was the head of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (In 1976, was renamed as Philippine Olympic Committee
Philippine Olympic Committee
The Philippine Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee of the Philippines.-About the POC:The POC is a private, non-governmental organization composed of and serve as the mother organization of all National Sports Associations in the Philippines...
) 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
Rizal Memorial Sports Complex
The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, is national sports complex of the Philippines, located on Pablo Ocampo St. , Malate, Manila. It is named after the country's national hero, José Rizal....
. The events were broadcast on radio live at DZRH
DZRH
DZRH is a radio station in Metro Manila owned and operated by the Manila Broadcasting Company. The station's studio is located at CCP Complex in Pasay, Philippines, while its transmitter is located at Brgy. Malanday, Valenzuela...
and DZAQ-TV ABS-3
DWWX-TV
DWWX-TV, channel 2, is the flagship station of Philippine television network ABS-CBN Corporation. Its studios and transmitter are located at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center at Sgt...
on delayed telecast.
Games
Opening ceremony
The Games were formally opened by PresidentPresident of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Ramon Magsaysay
Ramon Magsaysay
Ramón del Fierro Magsaysay was the third President of the Republic of the Philippines from December 30, 1953 until his death in a plane crash in 1957. He was elected President under the banner of the Nacionalista Party.-Early life:Ramon F...
on May 1, 1954 at 16:02 local time. Around 20,000 spectators fill the Rizal Memorial Stadium
Rizal Memorial Sports Complex
The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, is national sports complex of the Philippines, located on Pablo Ocampo St. , Malate, Manila. It is named after the country's national hero, José Rizal....
in Malate
Malate
Malate is the ionized form of malic acid. It is an important chemical compound in biochemistry. In the C4 carbon fixation process, malate is a source of CO2 in the Calvin cycle....
, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
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
Athletics at the 1951 Asian Games
Athletics was contested at the 1951 Asian Games in New Delhi, India from March 8 to March 11.-Medal table:-Men:-Women:-External links:* - GBR Athletics...
event, the sole gold medal of any Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
in the athletics events of the previous Asian Games.
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 Games1951 Asian Games
The 1951 Asian Games, officially known as the First Asian Games, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Delhi, India from 4 to 11 March 1951. The Games received names like First Asiad and 1951 Asiad by the president of the organising committee Anthony de Mello...
. Three sports—boxing
Boxing at the Asian Games
Boxing has been contested at every Asian Games since its introduction to the program at the 1954 Asian Games.- Current events :* -48 kg* -51 kg* -54 kg* -57 kg* -60 kg* -64 kg* -69 kg* -75 kg* -81 kg...
, shooting and wrestling
Wrestling at the Asian Games
Wrestling has been an event at the Asian Games since 1954 in Manila, Philippines.-Men's events:1954* 52 kg * 57 kg * 62 kg * 67 kg * 73 kg * 79 kg * +79 kg 1958* 52 kg * 57 kg * 62 kg * 67 kg * 73 kg...
—made their debut, while cycling
Cycling at the Asian Games
Cycling events have been contested at every Asian Games since 1951 Asian Games in New Delhi. It was not included in 1954.-Editions:...
was dropped out.
- Aquatics
- Diving
- SwimmingSwimming at the 1954 Asian GamesSwimming was contested at the 1954 Asian Games in Manila, Philippine.- Medal table :- Men :- Women :- References :* * * - External links :*...
- Water polo
- AthleticsAthletics at the 1954 Asian Games-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-External links:* - GBR Athletics...
- BasketballBasketball at the 1954 Asian GamesBasketball was one of the many sports which was held at the 1954 Asian Games in Manila, Philippines.-Group A:-Group B:-Final round:-Semifinals:-Bronze medal game:-Gold medal game:-Final standing:-References:*...
- BoxingBoxing at the 1954 Asian GamesThe Boxing Tournament at the 1954 Asian Games was held in Manila, Philippines.-Medal table:-Medalists:...
- FootballFootball at the 1954 Asian GamesFootball at the 1954 Asian Games was held in Manila, Philippines from May 1 to May 8, 1954. All matches took place at the Rizal Memorial stadium, and were of 80 minutes duration.- Group A :--------- Group B :--------- Group C :----...
- Shooting
- Weightlifting
- WrestlingWrestling at the 1954 Asian GamesWrestling was one of the sports which was held at the 1954 Asian Games in Manila, Philippines between 1 and 3 May 1954.-Medal table:-Freestyle:-References:*...
Participating NOCs
National Olympic Committees (NOCs)National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committees are the national constituents of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, they are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games...
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.
Medal tally
JapanJapan at the 1954 Asian Games
Japan participated in the 1954 Asian Games held in the capital city of Manila, Philippines.This country was ranked 1st with 38 gold medals, 36 silver medals and 24 bronze medals with a total of 98 medalsto secure its top spot in the medal tally....
led the medal table, athletes from Japan won most medals, including most gold, silver and bronze. Host nation, Philippines
Philippines at the 1954 Asian Games
The Philippines participated and hosted the 1954 Asian Games held in the capital city of Manila.This country was ranked 2nd with 14 gold medals, 14 silver medals and 17 bronze medals with a total of 45 medalsto secure its second spot in the medal tally....
finished second with 45 total medals (including 14 gold).
The top ten ranked NOCs at these Games are listed below. The host nation, Philippines, is highlighted.