These talks, of course, were translated for the benefit of the three major language groups, and in Budapest and Prague, they were translated into many other languages as well.

When the concluding “Amen!” was said, no one wanted to leave. Tears streamed down thousands of faces. From across the large stadiums, handkerchiefs, scarves, and umbrellas were waved back and forth in a parting salute to beloved friends who had maintained integrity to God in the face of long years of bans and imprisonment. In Prague many friends remained for more than an hour, singing and enjoying fellowship.

Preparing the Facilities

The mammoth Strahov Stadium in Prague, which had not been used for a large gathering in years, was in desperate need of repair. There were only about 55,000 usable seats, not nearly enough to handle the number expected for the summer’s largest convention in Eastern Europe. So a broken planing machine was located, repaired, and used to build over 12 miles [18 km] of benches for seating an additional 30,000 or so people.

Making and installing benches, of course, was only part of the work. Painting, cleaning, removing weeds, and general repairs were also needed. Finally, the stadium was decorated with 8,300 pots holding 33,200 flowers and 1,357 coniferous trees. At times a thousand workers were on hand. Altogether over 66,000 hours were spent by volunteers from 260 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Caring for Delegates

One of the largest tasks was the arranging of accommodations for thousands of visitors. Local Witnesses opened their homes to delegates. For the Prague convention, the Czech Witnesses accommodated 6,280 from Poland in their own homes.

In addition, many schools and gymnasiums in Budapest and Prague served as living quarters. Over 40 schools were used in Budapest to accommodate 7,930 persons. In Prague, 12,530 slept in schools and gymnasiums. Thousands of air mattresses were obtained for use in these facilities. Over 29,000 who attended the Prague convention stayed in student dormitories and youth hostels, and thousands more were accommodated in regular hotels.

Even after they arrived, delegates were cared for in many ways by their thoughtful hosts. For example, arrangements were made in Prague to operate 40 buses to strengthen a line normally covered by one bus only. In addition, because of an advance payment, delegates were able to travel free on public transportation to the convention in the morning and home in the evening simply by showing their convention badges.

One young baptismal candidate in Prague, who had recently received an attractive job offer, noted: “I felt that I had a choice between a trinitarian deity consisting of the U.S. dollar, the German mark, and the Austrian shilling on the one hand and Jehovah on the other. I decided for Jehovah and rejected the offer.”

Painting stadium and making benches for extra seating in Prague

[Chart on page 13]

CONVENTIONS IN EASTERN EUROPE AND THE SOVIET UNION

Country Peak Attendance Baptized

Czechoslovakia (Prague) 74,587 2,337

in Prague they were Czech/​Slovak, Polish, and German;

and for the Czechs and Slovaks in Prague, it was the receiving of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in their languages.