Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-23
NEXT CELEBRATION
OF OLYMPIC GAMES
Indications That They Will Be
the Finest Ever
Seen.
First Time That England Has
Had an Opportunity to En-
terrain the Athletes.
By Edward r. Bushnell.

The fifth quadrennia1 celebration of the
Olympic games, which is to be celebrated
in London in 1908. promises to result in
the finest set of track and field games that
the modern athletic world has ever seem
1t will be the first time that England has
had the opportunity to entertain the ath-
Ietic world in a revival Of the famous
Hellenic sports. Likewise the management
Of the meet will be an eye-opener as to
how an athletic meet Of this magnitude
should be managed, at least to all but
Americans With the exception of the
poorly attended Olympic meet in st. Louis
in 1903. these games have been notorious
for the laundering and incapable manage
ment OF those in charge. Both of the
meets held in Athens left much to be de-
sired, and the games held in Paris in 1900
were little short of a farce. Englishmen
are past masters in conducting such meet
ings. so that the 1908 games ought to be
a model meeting.
The time for holding the games, which
have been set for the month of July. in
sures their success. The games held in
Athens last year were set for April and
May positively the worst dates that could
have been selected. These dates made it
impossible for any college man to attend,
and likewise prevented the British col
legians from competing. The result was
the most mediocre gathering of track ath-
letes which ever competed at an interna-
ttonal meet of this character. Although
the American team all but swept the fed
last spring at Athens, this was far from
being the best team America could have
sent. Not only were many good club ath-
letes left at home. but it would have been
an easy matter to have got together
team of strictly college men who could
have easily beaten the representatives of
the United States in a dual meeting.
Although nothing definite has been de-
cfded 10y the universities of this country,
1T may be put down as a certainty that
this country will send to England the fin
est collection of college athletes that the
old world has ever seen. Apparently an
ticipating the possibility of this country
sending over several teams. representing
the different colleges, the English commit
tee has worked out plan which Will limit
the number of contestants. 1t is likely
that the American college team will be Sc
lected as the result of the eastern and
western Intercollegiate. only a certain
number of the point winners being chosen
But the A. A. U. would have to be rep
resented as well, and the team to compete
for this organization would naturally have
to be chosen Independently of the inter-
collegiate teams. On this account 1t is |
likely that national intercollegiate and |
A. A. u meet would be held some time |
prior to the games for the purpose of /
eliminating portion of the candidates. If /
such a method is finally hit upon it may /
be taken for granted that this team will 1
be made up very largely of the collegians, |
making great strides within the last few /
years, their teams have not yet attained /
the skill which marks the undergraduates
and their work But no matter who make