Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-16
OLYMPIC GAMES.
Elaborate Preparations Un-
der Way at London.
Fourth Of Series Of OIympiads
Begun Eleven Years Ago.
Worlds Best Amateurs Will Com.
pete In Many Sports.

1
which was imaugurated at Athens in
1896, and continued at Paris in 1900
and st. Louis in 1904. Olympic games
| are the chief factor in the Olympic
movement, which was initiated in 1896
by Baron Pierre de COubertin, president
Of the International Olympic commit
tee, in the hope that it might perform
fer the modern world TIE same SER
| vices which were rendered to the Hell
lenic communities by the OLYMPIC games
OF Ellis. The movement is, however,
intended to include, besides athletic
sports, contests in art. literature.
music, etc, and periodical conferences
on physical education and development
Such conferences were held with con-
siderable success at HaVrc IN 1897, and
| Brussels in 1905.
The awakening Of English interest in
the Olympic movement dates from the
meeting of the International Olympic
Council in London in 1904, under the
patronage Of King Edward. 1t was
then decided that The Olynpad Of 1908
should he held in Rome. The immedi-
ale outcome of this visit Of the Inter-
national olympic Council was the pro-
pnsal 10 found a British Olympic AS
Britain into touch with the Olympic
movement. This association was
founded at a meeting held at the House
Of Commons in the summer Of 1905
when W. II. Grenfcl, NJ. F. ncw Lord
| DeSborough) was elected chairman A
small council, composed of the chief
founders of the association, was then
appointed, with directions to invite the
| IL q 90 In
form Of sport to appoint member to
! represent it on the council, the object
being that full information as to the
views Of experts in every branch Of
sports should be AT the disposal Of the
council without making that body 50
numerous as To be incapable of dis
GUESSING in full meeting all questions
which might arise.
This representation has been grad
ually secured aud there is now scarcely
any form of sports which is not repro
scented either by an official delegate of
!! the English Governing Association or
by its president or secretary. The
council does not claim to be anything
more than a deliberate body in which
representatives of the different aSSOcia
tons meet 10 concert on the best meth
cd Of securing the due influence and
representation of England in Olympic
games and conferences; or, when the
games are held in England, to CO.
operate with one another in their or
ganiZation. The results of its de-
1iheratiOns on any athletic question re-
'Uirc in all cases the assent of the as
ISOLATION concerned before they can be
carried out ana 10 question Of proper
ltionate representation can therefore
larSe.
| The association was represented at
the Brussels conference on physical
education, held in June, 1905 1t was
represented also at the conference Or
ganized at Paris in May. 1896, by the
international Olympic committee, to
consider the possibility of combining
contests in art. literature etc, with the
celebration Of modern olympiads. a
conference attended by a large num-
Der of the leading representatives Of
French art and literature and many
eminent Foreigners The association
was also instrumental in raising funds
and in assisting British competitors TO
attend the olympic games ut Athens in
1906, although these games lie outside
the intel ational Olmpic series.
was announced that the Olympiad pro-
posed for Rome in 1908 was. owing to
local reasons, impossible in that city,
and that the Interna tional Olympic
Council had addressed to the British
Olympic Association, through Lord
DeSborOuSh, an invitation to undertake
this Olympiad. The first step taken by
the British Olympic Association on re
ceipt of the invitation was to address Il
circular to the associations governing
sport in England asking for their
opinion upon the proposal, and stating
that if it was decided 10 hold this
Olympiad in London the council pro-
posed to ask the governing associa-
tions to draw UP programs and regula-
tinns to superintend the carrying out
Of these programs in each sport. and to
nominate representative to serve on
the council of the British Olympic AS
ISOLATION for the purpose of organizing
the Olympiad Of 1908. by the middle
Of November. favorable replies having
been sreceived from the great majority
of the associations and official repre-
sentatives appointed, a resolution was
passed at the council meeting held on
Nov. 10, that these Olympic games be
held in London. On Nov. q Lord
Desborough outlined the proposals of
the association with the following
principles on which the games would
he conducted:
Cd That as many forms of sport
be included as may be practicable.
| CD That the events be only open to
bona fide amateurs.
| CD That the council do not pay the
expenses of any competitor whatever,
either for travelling or for residence
in this country
| CD That the games be held in July,
1908.
| 60 That every competitor be
officially entered by the association
controlling the particular sport in
which he is chosen to represent his
country and that these entries be
limited In number for each event.