New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-07
HELLENIC GAMES REVIVED.
AN ATTEMPT TO REPRODUCE THE AN
GENT CONTESTS OF THE STADIUM
FOOTRACEs. JUMPING WRESTLING AND DlSCOH-
Throwing IN THE RESTORED STADIUM OF
ATuENs-MODERN SPORTS ALSO TO BE
REPRESENTED IN An INTER

NATIONAL MEETING.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
s,r. great novelty IS now in preparation which
will attract the attention Of all lovers OF sport
abroad and at home, and to which the co-operd'io"
OF COMPETITORS is cordially invited This Is nothing
moro nor less than the revival Of the olympic
Games with modern additions. when VIII 'dNe
place on the very spot, the ancient H'au'uin d.
Athens celebrated the scene OF those coi"o"''
for mastery in athletic games whch lorhiv" -
prominent a characteristic of the HE OF @H''e"'
Greece. The idea is a most happy one, an" H'"
TIA, the King and Government OF Greece are
warmly promoting the enterprise, ana the irl"'e
ROYAL Is at the head Of the committee ana eNsdS''
IN arranging the details, its success IS assured n
games will take place from April 26 TO May I" oates
corresponding to April . to 10 o. - '"o '''''''
sarv of Greek independence
nh, nrorrar, nine of contests is as follows:
Field sports-Foot races. jumping throwing oi
weights and the quot. The foot races VIII p'o'''S
include the distance from Marathon to Athens ou'
,horo may be notifications made in this depart
mcnt ,...
Cvmnast'cs-Individual and collective comoa'S
fencing and wrestling assaults with the saore anu
sword. after the fashion Of ancient "reece anu
Rome
Rifle shooting AZ mark
Naval sports-Yachting and rowing matches
These will lake place in the Bay Of Phalerum' near
Athens. b. T.,
Natation- Swimming and water poo matches ."
the same waters.
Nelocipede races on the track
Lawn tennis cricket and golf matches.
No football or pony polo figure in the programme
frs on account of the danger atenalAs '",S
games to individuals and to animals. ana a.'''
owing to the fact that these DO not enter INTO '''
sport Neither will prizefghtins take pi"oti as a.
present arranged. the Greeks desire -
such sports as fall within what they cohSner !" ~
"unciviiized" amusements The subscription coI
lecel AT Athens alone toward the expenses ol '''S
games. already exceeds 100000 drachmts'
From the countries heard from. eSpeciAny from
France England and the United states IL IoohS a.
II the various clubs will send contingents OF th'H
best men to take part in the competitive eam,S'
France il already moving in the matter ana VI
Michel Breal Of the Institute Of Paris mas oHe'''
a prize cup for the winner Of the footrdce aLl"ousH
Il is stated that the distance from Mdi"'""" "
Athens forty-elght kilometres. is he'd to De con-
trary to the principles OF sport ana OF hEEehe
This revival of the Olympic Games is not an IN
tried experiment Mr. Tuckerman, formerly Minister
of the United states to Greece. in The Greeks OF
To-day" Published by the Putnams. says:
During King Otho's reign there was an aiicnpt
Games. showing the dominant taste oi t.J 80, ~
wards But it was under the present King George
that the first successful movement IN TINS dreG, ai
by oH Mr. Zsppas "a weaithy Greek. who left sum
ta6iisbins an Exhibition Of National Industry and
OF competitive athletic sports which under ne ,
years, in ancient times
Mr. Tuckerman. after describing the site OF the
Stadium and the work of restoration. when reVea'S
this celebrated enclosure as it appeared some $50
years before the Christian era, gives the following
account OF the performance he witnessed on the oc-
casion of the celebration of Greek independence
during his official residence at Athens:
r62a5 b. q PsRG Of S 3D olive " aad SUR
mounted by flags was erected at me aPPeT SmI,
q
ming posts. climbing masis ana ropes, ana four
set up the space below. Thus was the Fan
athenaic Stadium reinaugurated for the beleht OF
cepting in the substitution Of wood for marble
seats. in its external form and appearance irI ON
eager multitude piled tier on tier above him.
The runner swift six hundred feet.
Twice climbed the tall arch Of his double course
Probably larger audience never assembled 10 on
those sloping banks Of the ancient Stadium than
was collected this occasion The number OF per
sons present was variouy sIlarc 10 be
2o6o6 SPECTATORS The dense black o. the assem-
s eIafe snow fstinela of the National costume
Imagine this multitude Of people seated win the
S S5m2i 0f the e 4 sgTad Of the spns
with the s24cs 6e9% a0yl b %" tshs
vs. ~ heir ancestors ana half-dozen "juises'
Adj 10 this the bursts Of military music from the
band stationed below the royal pavilion. the shouts
and cappng Of hands the winner received his
Victorious wreath and then the perfect beauty Of
atmosphere of June. sunny glow f1n oyer ne
scene and lit ne perSPec NV K fee y f
in the distance from the dense foliage OF us sur
yne amusing to observe how each detail Of the
ARRANGEMENTS had been made u Initiate those or
ant3g'svG; rls as "mmping' and wrestling" were
unfamiliar 20 Of thu Greeks VINO real them
dcscrbed by Greek historians ranged themselves
in line after having drawn lois Tor their pacrs ana
Cf -
lions OF the game" At the conclusion Of each per
formance the Judges, standing in their midst. an
nounced the name Of the victor: with his Parentage
and the place Of his birth; after which the hero
glowing with the sweat Of contention. mounted the
starway TO the front Of the Kings seat and re
celved from his Majesty the first prize. Ike ina
awarded in the ancient Olympic ganesLa SlInp;,f =
wreath Of wild olives. with which crowning himself
ne descended 10 the arena beloW. IN he mos, o.
spre Of olive from the hands Of the Queen and
he third a sprig Of bay leaves.
The performance occupied about three hours. and
consisted Of foo;races or the double course" w
post. and back 10 the point # Departure distance
Of about 400 English yards. rope-cl!nbins hand;
overland. a distance Of about twenty feet ana
Sn5. ~ sfxfvfhrce feet The sIccessf aspirant
NJ :bs nerformance received in addition TO the
wreath Of honor. reward OF i" 1rachmes. There
were but winners in this las ardnous achieva-
ieaping with and without the pole. the greatest dis
ing the discus ouoit. which measured twenty
FIVE cenmees in dams,eT ana %eghJed two an
frequently pierced ihe bull s,eye a. distance Of
thirteen
matches after the manner Of the pancratasts con-
cluded the fcats Of the modern athletes. On the
whole these were OF a higher order Of merit than
was generally expected at this. the FIRST feeble at
tempt 10 revive olympic games on the spot whore
the ancient Greeks covered themselves with glory
over twenty-five centuries ago.
England and the United States. IL is believed will
take steps 10 be well represented at the games OF
1895. Presumably the Greek Consuls at London and
Nen-York will be able to furnish any information
required as 10 the details OF the forthcoming Olym-
pic games 80
Athens. March ., 1895.
TIE ISSTE or PASSPORTS.
From The Chicago Timos-Herald.