The Opelousas courier., 1897-02-20
Renaissance Of Athletics.

On the world at large the Olympic
games have, OF course, exerted nc in
iuence as yet, but I am profoundly
convinced that they will do So. May
l be permitted to say that this was my
reason for founding them. Modern
athletics need to be unified and puri-
fed. Those who have followed the
Renaissance of physical sports in this
century know that discord rejgns SUI
preme from one end Of them to the
other. Every country has its own
rules it is not possible even to come
to an agreement as to who is
am amateur, and who is not.
All over the world there is
one perpetual dispute, which is far
ther fed by iEunmerable weekly, and
even daily, newspapers. In this de-
plorable stats Of things professional
ism tends to grow arace. Meu give
up their whole existence to one par
ticular sport, grow rich by practicing
it, and thus deprive it Of ali nobility,
aud destroy the just equilibrium of
man by making the muscles pre-
ponderate over the mind. It is my
belief that no education particularly
III democratic times, can be good aud
aud complete without the all Of
athletics; but athletics, in order to
play their proper educational role,
must be based on perfect disinterested-
ness and the sentiment Of honor.
II We are to guard them against
these threatening evils We must put
an end to the qusrrcls of amateurs,
that they may be united among them
selves and willing to measure their
skill in frequent international encoun-
tiers. But what country is to impose
its rules and its habits on the others?
The Swedes will not yield to the Ger
mans, nor the French to the English.
Nothing better than the international
Olympic games could therefore be de-
vised. Each country will take its turn
III organizing them. When they
come to meet every four years in these
contests, further ennobled by the
memories of the past, athletes all oyer
the world will learn to know one
another better to make mutual conces.
sions and to seek no other reward in
the competition than the honor of the
victory. OnQmay be filed with the
desire to see the~>}5lors of ones club
or college triumph II. national meet
ing; bntr how much RsnAonger is the
feeling when the colors jrt ones coun-
try are at stake! / an we'll assured
that the victors in the stadium at
Athens wished for no other recon-
pense when they heard the people
cheer the flag OF their country in
honor of their achievement.
1t was with these thoughts in mind
that l sought to revive the Olympic
games. have succeeded after many
efforts. Should the Institution pros.
per-as | IN persuaded, all civilized
nations aiding, that it Wilt may be
a potent, if III direct, factor in securing
universal peace. Wars break out be-
cause nations misunderstood each
other. We shall not have peace until
the prejulices which now separate the
different races shall have been out
lived. 10 attain this end, what better
means than to bring the youth Of ali
countries periodically together for
amicable trials of muscular strength
aud agility? The Olympic games, with
the ancients, controlled athletics and
promoted peace. 1t is not visionary
to look to them for similar benefac-
lions in the future.
R'ch gold fields have just been dis