The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-07-20
OLYMPIC DISPUTES.
Some Suggestions for Lessening or Avoid.
Ing Trouble,

NSoophhuh UT AvOl0s
ing Trouble.
To THK EDITOR OF TIE sUN-Sir. The
Olympic Games might have a better cha noe
Of serving the cause OF universal peace 10
the present system OF managing them under.
went o few changes. When we read such
announcements as: Grave trouble AZ tba
Olympic games" Americans disgusted hv
British un~fairness.' "Olympiad may end IN
war of nations" VI may at all events infer
that the system offers some Opportunities
for Observation-Disclosures TO arise. In fact Il
does oner some, but perhaps the number
might DO reduced.
The enoient games. which we are supposed
TO be %revlvins. were better secured to the
cause Of peace In all ways. Their general
character, to begin with. was more directly
pacific, Throughout their great period they
were not an International contest. but a ma
tional reunion. A single race, having one
language and religion. obllterated for the
time being the political divisions that had
arisen inside 1t. suspended all disputes. for.
bade lighting and came together TO Join In a
religious ceremony. like members OF a family
reassembling at an ancestral hearth In COM
mon piety. Though thus free from the ele-
ment Of international rivalry, and though
united by q strong religious feeling unknown
TO Ii, the Greeks nevertheless displayed much
more care than we do to avoid possibilities of
tEiCttuu III tnc EtutCo. LUIS may De seen In
three points where our practice 10 different
from theirs: They limited the number Of
events to one constant list; the meetings were
held on neutral ground with neutral officials:
no concession was ever made to any local
variations In o sport. That we lose a good
deal by not initiating them In these respects
seems clear enough from previous ~revivals
ss well as from that now going on In London.
Take, for instance. the question OF the gem
-. N pnpInRohi - nnInp a,.r s,.t.,, ,.o.
unable to solve II. No fair method Of scoring
for this purpose can possibiy be devised so
long 60 the number Of events is unlimited and
variable. The British committee could only
follow the example OF its predecessors and
decide against awarding a general trophy.
This year indeed the number Of events labelled
Olympic" Is greater than ever. RUNNING far
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svsry head; and second. not I. Few Of f'f the
contests arr. likely to be-as they are this
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tended. the titular Olympic trophy cannot be
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la III inassds SpHiibsrsian tlase ~? %h ies i & .Sat 81
are not 70 be tsten Seriously. What justifaoss.
ton Is there for the vast amount Of time.
money ..nd energy expended on themf
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may not be feasible, But is Il auixotic to
ssD l%iseg 70 that . o sas anpR fist, Of not sv sess. %tshs
IDENTICAL With the ancient list. but as one
ties concerned; IA, that the setusl' mapass-
nationalI, An international committee. al
ready sfSists Which %rssu !ss,s some points,
Il 'p PssiSns e snSasd q the actual sam M p e ths
country chosen, and AL manner Of local ooloT
At Saoe SSres Ssnn 10; Ss !: Apparent 5aS %s IL our ~ t tnns
eustoms In various games.
Of the modern system because the. easiest 70
undsrs..ndipss. witness Tie disputes tSis
Sar. fSs sooeptedd principle j.. apparsn.Iy.
locsl' English sse In. tSssss' essss hsPpens to
pole. and that contestants in ths tug Of war
s%nsaY s ssmo1 1si'r sfHSs s' sFY,i SGo's po hes' sss v e.
they derive 81 . tu8. Of war from
81: :ufm aaGseaj rom ,h !' Re- Tx. III hae sSrs. cham %sy
pion teams OF ths country belong TO thu, force
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re really eenirosted. witk , thatsrnstten.ll
Zames eolns on In loos! conditions, . nat con-
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;5t SnS "a e. i%nssrnstions! PssSs; No
!SS Ia. s Is 81 f sstsb ]; asH 3 i %a '. sssndsia
ut q Olympic events and an international
II, iI snSard r e 4. .S'v & &, , ths ssaSs:; by t he
IRE, is the revival really worth whiisi g..
CAMBRIDGE. Mass. July 10.