Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-15
WILL SURPASS THE
GREAT COLISEUM
Vast Expanse of the Arena
Where the Coming Olympic
Games Are to Take
Place.
Special Cablegram to The Star.

LONDON, December 14.-Nothing more
extraordinary Us a constructive feat is to
| be seen just now in London than the city
within city which is rising as rapidly as
Aladdin's palace on the open spaces of
Shepherds bush. Those who remember
the cutting Of the first sod for the exhibit
| ton buildings in January by the represent
tatives of the French ambassador, and the
raising Of the first stanchion of the huge
arena in August by Lady Desborough, will
best be able to appreciate the astounding
advance made 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 spa
cious halls, each 400 feet by 20 feet. are
already outlined in steel, iron and con-
crete. For many the external decorations
have already been affixed to the fireproof
structural walls. Two hundred and fifty
thousand square feet of floor space has
been rooted over for the machinery hall
alone. Other palaces are rising rapidly
for education, fine arts, music and wom-
ans work.
The Olympic Games Arena.
On its present condition. with only the
two great segments finished at each end
of the mighty ellpse. the Olympic arena
irresistibly reminds the spectator Of 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 Olympic
arena of today. The stadium Of modern
Athens. seats and all. could be built with
in the space of grass that forms merely
the center Of London's latest marvel. The
amphitheaters of Mines or Aries could be
hidden away at one end of the Shepherds
bush arena and scarcely interfere with its
proportions. Some $4,000 people will be
able to sit round its spacious seats and
watch the greatest athletic gathering the
world has ever seen.
According to reports from the various
countries interested in sports in all parts
of the world, the assembly of athletes will
be the greatest, both in quality and guam
tity, that ever competed for international
honors. France, Germany, Greece. the
United States and many other nations,
aside from England and the British colo
MES. will be represented by host of en-
trants skilled in strength, speed and en-
durance. and the winner of any special
event can well be termed champion Of the
world in his particular speciality.
The Olympic games will be held under
the auspices Of the British Olympic Coun-
ell. The American committee, which has
been appointed in accordance with the
wishes of Lord Desborough president
of the Olympic Council, is a representa-
tive one, the honorary president being
Theodore Roosevelt, President of the
United States; Caspar Whitney, president,
and Julian w. Curtiss of Yale, treasurer.
Rules as to Entries.
No athlete of the United States will be
permitted to compete in the Shepherds
bush Stadium through an individual entry
He must be a member of the American
team and entered as such by the American
Olympic committee. Only native-born or
naturalized Americans, either residents of
the United States or having migrated to
foreign countries within recent years, will
be eligible for the team.
While it is not likely that any of them
will be used, the United States has quite a
few athletes in England itself who, in
case Of necessity, or in the event of any
of them showing such class that they
would be entitled to places on the team,
can be called upon to compete under the
Stars and Stripes at the Olympic games
the Rhodes scholarship men. Under the
ruling Of Lord Desborough these men are
eligible. None Of the Rhodes men are
world heaters but in intercollegiate meets
they have been placed we'll most of the
|