John Ian Wing
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John Ian Wing (born November 18, 1939) is a British resident of Chinese descent.
Born in Windsor, Melbourne, his mother died when he was a few days old. His father placed him in the Melbourne Children's Home and he remained there for several years. When his father remarried he was removed from the Home and sent back to his family. [1]
He was a student in Australia in 1956 when he wrote an anonymous letter to the International Olympic Committee suggesting the athletes from all countries mingle during the closing parade. His idea was used that Olympiad and has remained an Olympic tradition since that time.[2]
[edit] 1956 Summer Olympics
Just days before the closing ceremony of the 1956 Summer Olympics at Melbourne, the Olympic committee received an anonymous letter. This letter encouraged the Olympics to do something they have never done before. It was a suggestion that would bring all the athletes together as a symbol of global unity. The athletes must not march but walk freely and wave to the public during the closing ceremonies. The suggestion was adopted and Olympic teams have done so ever since.
Thirty years later, a Chinese individual named John Ian Wing revealed himself to the world as having written the letter and became a hero of the Olympic Games. He became recognized with an Olympic medal for his historic contribution to the Olympic Games, becoming the first Chinese person to be awarded an Olympic medal. At the time of the letter, Wing was a 17 year old apprentice carpenter. He did not state who he was because he did not want his family to know he had written such a letter. Distinguishing oneself by presenting one's ideas (even good ideas) to important people would have been considered importunate and rude. According to another memoir, he was also worried that the officials would think it was a "dumb idea".[3] With all the media attention, he wrote a second letter, telling his name and address and why he wanted to be anonymous. John’s idea has become an Olympic tradition and were especially appropriate for Melbourne's "Friendly Games".
A street in the former Athlete's Village at the site of the 2000 Summer Olympics at Sydney has been named John Ian Wing Parade in his honour.
[edit] References
- ^ John Ian Wing: Methodist Children’s Homes and the Olympics 1956. Wing's account of his early life, page found 2011-06-28.
- ^ Gordon, Harry (2003-09-24). "The changing face of a dear-old arena". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/23/1064082994352.html. "Perhaps the greatest single contribution the 1956 Games made to the Olympic movement came from an anonymous Chinese boy, a 17-year-old apprentice carpenter who wrote cheekily to the organisers suggesting that the procession at the closing ceremony should not be a traditional march, with divided nations, but one joyous intermingled affair, with athletes from all nations linking arms and waving. The idea was adopted, and that is the way it has been since. That Chinese lad, later identified as John Ian Wing, changed the closing ceremony forever. On the 30th anniversary of the Games, through an essay in Time magazine, I played a role in finding him - living as a builder in England."
- ^ John Ian Wing: Methodist Children’s Homes and the Olympics 1956, describing his life in an orphanage, adoption and details of why he wrote the letter.
“Don't Write a Letter of Complaint... Offer a Solution!” DimSum. 20 Sept. 2007. The British Chinese Community Website. 5 Nov. 2007. http://www.dimsum.co.uk/viewpoints/dont-write-a-letter-of-complaint...-offer-a-solution.html
Location of John Ian Wing Parade at the Sydney Olympic Park (Newington) http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=John+Ian+Wing+Way,+Newington,+NSW+2127+Au&sll=-33.839677,151.054716&sspn=0.012155,0.019312&layer=c&ie=UTF8&t=h&cbll=-33.843027,151.052135&panoid=x30zS-QDt9Hs-UpThYCCvQ&cbp=1,36.07884243290863,,0,6.3424685556431335&ll=-33.836415,151.065445&spn=0.024311,0.054932&z=15
