The Washington times., 1907-12-24
ARENA
LARGEST WORLD
HAS EVER SEEN
Mammoth Structure Will
Seat Over 10000
People.
Cream of World'S Ath-
leteS Entered-Ameri-
cans Look Good.

Nothing more extraordinary, as a con-
structive feat. as to be seer just now in
London Lhan the city within a city
which is rising as rapidly as Aladdin's
palace on the open spaces OF Shepherds
bush.
Astounding advance has been mnde
In the last few months IN the erection
OF the huge constructions that cover 40
acres Of what was desert land less than
twelve months ago. Eight spacious
halls, each 900 feet by seventy feet. are
already outlined in steel, iron. and con
crete For many the external decOra-
uons have already been affixed TO the
nreproof structural walls. Two hundred
space has been rooted over for the ma.
chinery hall alone Othe. palaces are
rising rapidly for education, fine arts,
music, and woman's work
Eclipses Coliseum.
In its present condition, with only the
two great seEments finished at each end
Of the mighty elllpse. the Olympic aTePa
irresistibly reminds the spectator o. the
Coliseum, As that venerable monument
OF imperial Rome now looks in the
splendor OF its majestic ruins. But the
Coliseum. with all its tiers OF arches,
could be easily contained within the
completed arena of today.
The stadium Of modern Athens, seats
anu al. CUulu bc built WItniu JEe space
Of LOndon's latest marvel. The amphl-
theaters Of Mines or Aries could be
hidden away az one end OF the Shep-
herds bush arena, and scarcely inter
Tere with its proportions. Some $1,000
people VIII be able 10 sit around It's
spacious seats and watch the greatest
athletic gathering the world has ever
seen
Quality Of Ent-ants.
According 10 reports from the various
countries interested in sports Ga all
parts OF the world. the assembly OF
athletics viii be- the grea test. both IN
quality and quantity. that ever com
i-e,vu lOT 4iltyt tI,lJIOi-al ltuOrs. France.
Germany. Greece. tho United States and
many other nauons. aside from Eng
land and the British colonies. will be
represented by host OF entrants. skill
ed in strength, speed. and endurance,
and the winner OF any special event
can well be termed champion OF CEe
world in his particular specially.
The Olympic games Will be held unCer
the auspices OF the British Olympic
council The American committee,
which has been appointed I'm accord
snce with the wishes OF Lord Des-
borough. as president OF the olympic
Council, Is n representative one. The
honorary president being Theodore
Roosevelt President Of the United
States. Caspar Whitney. president. and
Julian ". CuruSs. OF Yale, treasurer
Anent American Competitors.
No athletes o. the United States VIII
be permitted 20 compete in the Shep-
nerds bush stadium through an in
diVidual entry He must be a member
OF the American team and entered as
such by the American Olympic commit
tee. Only native-bOrn o. nlturaiiZCl
Americans. either residents Of ihe
United States or having migrated to
foreign countries within recent years.
will be eligible for the team
While IL is not likely that any OF
them will he used. the United States.
has quite a few athletes IL England
itself who. in case Of necessity. or in
he event Of them showing such class
that they would be entitled 10 places
on the team. can ne called upon 10 COM
pete under the Stars and Stripes at the
Olympic EaInes-tEe Rhodes scholarship
men. Under the ruling OF Lord Des-
borough these men are eligible. None OF
the Rhodes men are world bcaters. but
in intercollegiate meets they have been
placed we'll most OF the time.