Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-07-13
OUR ATHLETES
 VERSUS WORLD r
Expect to Win Many Points
 at the Olympic Games.
BEGIN TODAY IN LONDON

Americans Believed to Be Sure of Win
 ming Some Events and to Have Good
 Chances In others-Weieht Throw
 ing Contests, Jumps, Pole Vault and
 Dashes Look Safe For Yankee Team,
 Do Not Expect to Win the Marathon.
 Sports to Continue a Fortnight.
 London, July 13.-The great Olympic games will begin today in the big Lon don Stadium. The American team will begin the struggle brimfull of con- fidence. They expect to win the ma. jority of points, and in order to do this they will have to beat the world. While the Americans may fail to best the combined teams of the other na- tions, there is little doubt that they will score far more points than any one team. In fact. the Yankee team is an overwhelming favorite for the great struggle in which 1000 athletes will compete.
 America is absolutely sure of win ming many of the events. and there are very few contests in which the men of Uncle Sam will not make a strong bid for points. England holds a few events comparatively safe. but noth- ing like the number that America can already count as won.
 In practically all the weight throw ing contests. the standing high jump. the standing long jump. the pole vault and the loo and 200 meter dashes America looks invincible. The Yankees are also fairly sure of the hurdle con- tests and the running broad jump. They will meet with serious opposi- tion in the 400 meter and 800 meter struggles, but many are willing to place these hard races in the American column of victories. Even in the 500 meter contest the Yankees have a chance. but in the walks and long dis tance running events the foreigners. particularly the British. look too strong to be beaten. America does not ex- pect to win the Marathon. although she has several good men in this the hardest struggle of the meeting.
 Worlds Athletes In Parade.
 The original idea was to devote to- day entirely to the formal ceremonies, including parade of the athletes be- fore the king. but the committee in charge of the games eventually decid- ed to run off some of the preliminaries. and the first heat of the 1900 meter race will be started as soon as possi- ble after formalities are ended The parade. which will be the largest of it's kind ever held. is to be the feature of the ceremonies. The representa- tives of the various countries will form into groups. divided according to the sports in which they are competing. and will carry their national banners.
 The preparations are on gigantic scale. The Stadium will seat 6S.oCo spectators, and there is room for 23.- GOO more. but no seats. By making use of strip surrounding the Stadium. standing room also can be found for 50.e00 additional, but this probably will not he necessary. The grounds within the Stadium provide three ath- letic tracks, a swimming bath and dressing rooms for 2.0o0 competitors. The turf track for hurdle racing. the cinder path for running and the con crete path banked for cycling have been tested and pronounced the best fin England. several records already have been broken on these tracks. and it may he confidently predicted that more will go when the chosen athletes of the world meet there.
 The sports are to continue for a fort night and will occupy the morning and afternoon of each day During the first days of the meeting there will be a number of events going on simul- taneously. but as the unsuccessful are weeded out and the interest grows only one event of importance will he contested al a time. The prices of seats have been fixed by experts se- lected from athletic associations in con- sultation with two committees. They range from 2J cents to g. for the after noon performances and practically about half that amount for the mOrn- ing.