Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1908-07-15
OLYMPIC GAMES OPEN TODAY
 IN LONDON
.n.cIal ln De Iournnl.MIncr.


 of thousands of interested spectator. and with ceremonies bcdtting the i'm portancc of the occasion, the grea' Olympic stadium in Shepherds BusN was formally opened today by King | Edward. His Majesty declared hl, warm personal interests in the contest about to begin and expressed inc belief that fine friendly competitions would tend to strengthen the cordial relations among jhc nations of the worll. Sim. liar sentiments were conveyed in a brief speech hv Lord Dcsborough. the president of the British olympic Conn. cit. and to whose untiring efforts i- largely due the perfection of the ar- Iangemcnts for the great athletic meet.
 All London appeared interested in today's event at Shepard's Bush. Hours before the time fixed for inc opening ceremonies the transit lines to the West End nf London mad all they could do to accommodate the rush of travel.
 lt was the first time that the great majority of those in attendance had had an opportunity to view the sta dium. Exclamatinns of surprise and admiration were to he heard on every hand. The giant amphitheatre, com plctcd nt . cost of s300,000. has a seat ing capacity of 10000. Besides the spacious field the great arena contains a li0.yard swimming tank and two one third mile running tracks. Erected at regular intervals around the edge of the arena were Venetian masts anI from these there Huttcrcd today the an1a nf un al nf the opening ceremonies came when the two thousand and more athletes enter cd for the games paradcd about the arena, receiving the cheers of tens of thousands of onlookers.
 Today was given over entirely to the opening formalities. The games will begin tomorrow and continue until July 25. During this time the pick and flower of the athletic world will strive with every effort to win glory and fam, and the plnudits of the multitude. Ncv. CT before in the history of the world has an athletic event of greater impor. tance been held or one in which a keener pitch of enthusiasm has been aroused. The Olympic contests of an- cient Greece pale into insignifcancc in comparison with the present meet. In the variety of competitions and in the number and representative character of the entrants the meet has never been equaled. Hundreds of visitors have ar. rived in London from America, Austra. lia, South Africa and continental Flu. rope to watch their countrymen con. tend for the trophies and to cheer them on to victory.
 The scope of the programme is enor nous. Prizes, mostly gold, silver and bronze medals, are offered for the fol. lowing events:
 Athletics, arcnery. cycling. fencing epee, sabre, and foils-associtaion foot. ball, rugby football, golf, gymnastics, hockey. lacross, lawn tennis (grass and covered cOurts)' motor boats, polo. racquets, rowing, shooting rifle, minia ture rifle, revolver and pistol-clav bird shooting. skating, swimming, wres. ting and yacht racing.
 The games are held only for ana. teurs, and for each sport separate de. hnition has been designed. Besides the Olympic Prize Medal, n certain number of challenge cups are offered. and spec. ial certificates will be given for spec. tally fine feats.
 The national prize probably will fall either to England or America, for there are a number of the contests, such ms hockey, lacrosse, lawn tennis and foot ball, in which the continental conn. tries have not a chance. But the lat. Ter are going to make special effort to show England and America that though they can't play polo they are very proficient in many other branches ot sport: Belgium expects to capture many prlzes m the aquatic events, and the Swedes and Germans probably will carry oh all the laurels in the gym. nastic contests. Greece will he strong. " represented in the discus throw and in the track events.
 The team from the United States, comprising more than three score of fa mons athletes, will undoubtedly cap. lure its full share of honors. In the running events and in many of the field events the wearers of the Stars and strlpeS are already prime favortes. And in the weight-throwing events, with Martin Sheridan and Ralph Rose, The American team Is conceded to be 
 Canada likewise is expected to prove i strong factor. Several of the events. such as hockey and lacrosse. appeal es, peeially to the Canadians. Canada like. | "ise hopes to make good showing in some Of the field events, but will have small chance of winning any of the track events unless it be the Mara. | non in Longboat and Coley, Canada has pair of runners who are as fine as any country will have in the long race.
 The 25'mile Marathon race is, in | Tact, the most popular event of the en. ,ire olympic programme. It will start rom the grounds of King Edwards palace at Windsor and end with eco | yard final dash around the stadium track. The entry list numbers nearly loo. '