The record-union., 1896-04-05
THE oLYMPIAN REVIVAL.

On the 9th inst. the Olympian games
are to be revived in the classic city Of
Athens, and American athletes are to
take part in them Two teams of Amer
fcan athletic youths are now near the
ground, and Of course the eyes Of all
Americans are on them and expectation
is somewhat troubled by fear. for the
teams are not the best we could have
sent, and they will have but four days
I'm which to recover from the fatigue of
q long voyage and to get into condition
The revival was brought about by the
action of the Union OF French Ath-
letic Sports" at an international con-
vention held under the auspices or the
union at Paris year before last 1t was
there proposed to revive the games, and
to bring them as closely to resemble the
ancient games as is possible. To effect
this Athens was suggested as the spot
where the Inauguration OF the revival
should take place. This suggestion met
with approval and was adopted with
enthusiasm and a permanent Interna-
tional Committee of Arrangements and
of Management was selected.
So soon as the idea was conveyed to
Greece. the people of that country well
coined it heartily, and took hold Of the
preparatory work with great spirit. and,
1t must be said, with unexpected liber-
slity and good judgment, for the modern
Greek is by no means representative in
athletics or love of them, or in much
else-for he is more Slavic than Hellenic
of the ancient Greek people. The
Crown Prince of Greece became Presi-
dent of the Greek Committee Of Ar
rangements, and a distinguished Gre
clan scholar, Demetrius Bikelas. was by
the Paris Convention placed at the head
of its committee.
The Greeks very quickly raised 300,-
900 drachmas. some $4,000, to meet
the necessary expenses. and this sum
has lately been much enlarged. the lib
erality and enthusiasm of the Greeks
augmenting as the day for the opening
OF the games draws near. One thing
that has given greater prominence to
the matter is the gift Of 100000
drachmas C$41 ,00O by NJ. Averoff to Sc
cure the restoration Of the ancient Sta
dunn, within which to hold the games.
The original Stadium was laid out by
Lycurgus. and was the Panatheniac
Stadium, its foundation stones being
laid some $50 years before the begin
ming Of the Christian era When 1t was
completed, 1t was one of the most beau
tifully decorated places of pleasure in
the world The elliptical arena or am
phitheater, with its polished marble
seats. held comfortably $4,000 specta-
tors. These seats were In the middle
ages torn out and burned for lime MAX
ing, but the outlines of the structure
have remained, and the lines Of the
foundations and the aisles, so that re-
construction has not been difficult
In the plan Of reconstruction the en-
tire Stadium is not restored, and mar
bic seats have been placed only on the
curved end and for three tiers on the
sides The remainder Of the sittings
are Of lighter and less costly stone
The restored arena is over 700 feet in
length. and permits speed track of 600
feet for the foot-racing.
In the original Stadium the games
were held but once in four years, though
numerous practice games and mere To-
cal exercises were indulged In more fire.
Qhently, but the real Olympian games,
which constituted the chief OF events
OF the great national festival OF the
Greeks, came but once in four years.
Il Is proposed to adopt this period also.
ana have the revival games at the same
periods, the next to be In 1900 In Paris,
and possibly the festival at the end Of
+. the next four years in America In 1904
These games were first instituted
aasout 1922 B. c., though this date is
Imputed by some authorities. The
contests were during all the time Of the
olympdan sports for no greater prizes
thAn = laurel wreath or . green twig