Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-21
NOBLE HISTORY
OF GREEK GAMES
Events in Ancient Greek Life
Lend Prestige 10
Contests.
NEW HONoRS FOR MARATHON
Race Is Scheduled Because OF Heroic
Effort OF Courier az Great
Historical Battle.

Americans as q nation are greatly
interested In The Olympic games for
which the best athletes the country
could send are now preparing in Ath-
cns Here In Salt Lake there are many
Greeks who share the pride Of their
ancient ancestry. IN the awakening Of
modern Greece which these games be-
speak and over m Greece today there
~ more than 4 little OF the fund for
the entertainment Of American ath-
postoffloe, and raised by the SALT Lake
colony.
The reason Cor the action Is that
There Is hardly village In Greece
from which some member has not
come 10 America, and therefore the
kinship between the two countries Is
keeny felt, and Greeks IN the stadium
witnessing the games are anxious to
cheer for the American team. for
they have had letters from near kin
over here. asking them TO do all in
their power TO show n kindly feeling
towards the Americans
To give dignity to the gnmes, the
king and queen Of England, together
with the Prince of Wales are TO be
guests Of honor, and will sit with King
George of Greece IN the seats built cs-
pecially for the royal family The de-
tails of arrangements have been per-
fected under the direction of Crown
Prince Constantine OF Greece, who has
given them his personal attention for
q long time, and who is responsible
for the entertainment of all visiting
athletes. The Greeks consider the
carnival, so local residents declare. the
greatest chance Greece has to recess
tabllsh her ancient prestige ms n ma
ton, and they look upon these an
nual visits to the ancient birthplace
for formal athletic contests, as n a
tribute modern Greece may receive on
behalf of her ancient ancestry
II was In 1896 that the stadium
was restored, through the phlan-
thropy of wealthy Greek merchant,
and In that year the first Olympic
games were held In modern times.
Then at Paris another series were held
during the Worlds fair. and at ST.
Louis the last set were held. These
games away from Greece did not re-
ceivc the support OF the Athenians,
and now II has been voted never again
to allow an Olympian festival TO be-
held away from the stadium. Senti-
ment has become firm on this point.
and II is likely that from now on
long era of Olympian games will be-
gin. all OF them held at Athens, with
the king as host, and the Greek peo-
Pile making use OF the opportunity to
show hospitality, and when possible,
athletic supremacy to all other ma.
tons.
Sathakos, a Salt Lake resident, was
In Athens In 1896 when the first mod
ern games were held. His wife and
three children are still there, studying
In the Athens high school, preparatory
TO entering the university. Upon their
graduation he intends to bring them
to this country, and for that reason is
employing a regular tutor To give them
English lessons. He has written his
two boys to seek out the American
athletes and give each Of them a cor
dial welcome to the city
HONOR AMERICANS.
Discussing those games Mr.. Statha-
kos said In an interview; There was
enc thing occurred In honor OF the
Americans that was not given
any other nations representatives.
After each event the flag OF
the nation whose representative
won. was flown from the large pole
Al the end of the stadium, and when
Connolly, an American, won the "trip
LOOM as we call IL, or the hop, skip
and Jump" as II Is styled In this coun-
try and the American flag went up, all
the Greeks In the stand took out little
flags from under their coats and waved
them amid a deafenng roar of cheers
or 'zetos," as we style 1t,
THE MARATHON RACE.
Sketching the history of the ancient
games. Mr. Stathakos states that the
first olympic games occurred In Elei-
dos, and no one but Greeks We're allow
ed to participate. all other peoples be.
Ing styled 'barbarians," and unworthy