DESERTED VILLAGE PLAZA; AUSTRALIAN TEAM PACK BAGS; AUSTRALIAN HOCKEY PLAYER TUCKS MEDALS INSIDE SHIRT; HUNGARIAN OFFICIAL PICKS UP BAGS AND SOUVENIRS; MORE SHOTS OF BAGGAGE AND SOUVENIRS; ALGERIAN ATHLETE KISSES WOMAN FAREWELL; JAPANESE TEAM IN BUS; BOYS RUN AROUND RUNNING TRACK.




Initials LH/VS/JF/PC



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Background: THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE AT MEXICO CITY WAS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ALMOST DESERTED AFTER AN EXODUS OF ATHLETES AND OFFICIALS. SOME ATHLETES ARE STAYING ON FOR HOLIDAYS BUT MOST HAVE FAREWELLED THEIR OPPONENTS WITH PROMISES TO MEET AGAIN FOR THE 20TH OLYMPIAD AT MUNICH IN 1972.

IN EACH BUILDING, TEAM MEMBERS CRAMMED THEIR BAGS WITH BELONGINGS AND SOUVENIRS. ONE AUSTRALIAN HOCKEY PLAYER TOOK NO CHANCES, HE WORE HIS SILVER MEDAL INSIDE HIS SHIRT.

OUTSIDE, BUSES PULLED AWAY WITH ATHLETES AND OFFICIALS COMPLETING THEIR FINAL FAREWELLS. THE JAPANESE AND ALGERIAN TEAMS WERE AMONG THE LAST TO LEAVE.

ON THE TRAINING TRACK, THE SCENE WAS EQUALLY QUIET AFTER THE HECTIC ACTIVITY OF THE PREVIOUS TWO WEEKS. ONLY POTENTIAL MEMBERS OF THE 1972 MEXICO TEAM BOTHERED TO LIMBER UP.

THEIR RIGOROUS TRAINING SCHEDULES OVER, THE SENIOR ATHLETES RELAXED AT THE VILLAGE SWIMMING POOL OR HEARTILY ATE THEIR FIRST NON-FATTENING MEAL FOR SOME TIME.

ON NOVEMBER 8, THE VILLAGE WILL BE DECLARED A NATIONAL PARK WITH THE ROOMS LATER SOLD AS APARTMENTS.