Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-06-23
FEARS AMERICAN ATHLETES.
Lord Desboruugh Thinks We Are
 Eneland's Strongest Rival.

Lord Desborough, president ol the British Olympic council says that America will be the most for midable rival England will have in the events in the Stadium. Ills lordship thinks that England will do hest in the distance runs, walking, the swimming and diving. In speak ing of the general prospects LOTT Desborough says: Inere are countries or colonies competing, ana the number of competitors is expect ed to reach 2,500. Then again our arrangements with the Franco-brlt- ish exposition have secured TOT us an arena for the games which so Tar has been unapproached in size ana convenience. As to the prospects of British athletes it is not an easy question to answer, but personally | believe we shall do much better than in previous Olympic games. The country where the games are held naturally has an advantage; the entries, however, are limited Tn all the events, which will help the visiting countries. -.s.. Tn field and track athletics l ex- pect the United States representa- tiyes will be very strong, and we shall have to do our best to hold our own. Then there are many events in which our foreign visitors start under better auspices than our selves perhaps; in throwing the dis- GUS, for example, and the Javelin, both new sports to most Englishmen. The distances are measured by me ters, not yards. But as say, on the whole we ought to dowell, especially in the long distance running, swim ming and high, diving. In any case, however, though I should naturally wish to see our men as successful as possible, do not think strong competition by our foreign visitors and even defeat of our own repre- sentatives would be anything but good for international sport.
 These games have an aspect much wider than the success of any particular nation. They are the ex- preston of the 'undoubted spread of athleticism among the civilized countries of the world and of the international character which all sport has been assuming during the last quarter of a century. To me this widening in the interest taken in manly exercises is a very good augury and we of the British olym- pic council wish 1t every success, even at the cost of the temporary success of our own athletes. The periodical meeting of the flower of the youth and early manhood of the competing nations. the repre- sentatives, in fact. of the genera ton in whose hands the immediate destinies of each of these countries He, is to me matter of very great results hereafter. Personally l re- gard the Olympic games as a factor making for peace in European poll ties certainly as valuable as those other periodical meetings at The Hague.
 In every country about to send teams there has been good deal of curiosity regarding the arrange- ment of the programme. Following Is the schedule:
 July f8. Opening ceremony.
 July II.
 NornfnR-Field athletics, three hours: track athletics. one and a half hours: cycling. one-half hour. Afternoon-Field athletics. one and . half hours; cycling, two and a half hours.
 July f5.
 Morninr-Field athletics. two hours: cycling. two and a half hours. Afternoon-Field athletics. three and a half hours: track athletics, two and a half hours. cycling. one and a quarter hours.
 July IS.
 Morning-Field athletics. three hours: track athletics. two hour; cycling. two and a half hours. Af- ternoon-Ffeld athletics. three and a half hours: track athletics. two and e half hours: cycling. one and a quarter hours
 July fS.
 Mornine-Field athletics. three hours. AfteFnOon-Field athletics, three and q half hours. track ath- Istics. one and a half hours. cycling. one and three-quarter hours
 July is.
 Mornfne-Field athletics. three hours; track athletics. one hour. Afternoo1-Fisld athletics. three and a half hours: track athletics. tro honrs. cycling. tuo and three quarter hoursL
 s<cozd Week-July a.
 uornfne-FIeId ath1e-icn. three kcerk Afssrnocn-Fisid athlsticA