Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-05-21
BIG LONDON STADIUM
Splendid Amphitheater Where the
Olympic Games Will Be Held.
FINE ATHLETIC QUARTERS.
Great Enclosure In Which World Con-
testants Will Compete Has Cinder
Track One third of a Mile to the
Lap-Room For 10000 Spectators.


testants Will Compete Has cinder
Track One-third of Mile to the
Lap-Room For 10000 Spectators.
According to the official statistics and
measurements issued by the English
Olympic committee, the immense stadi-
um at Shepherds Bush. London, Eng
land, where athletes from all parts of
the world will compete in the Olympic
games of 1908, is the largest structure
of its kind ever built for athletic exhi-
bition purposes. Some idea of the vast
ness of the stadium can be gathered
| from the fact that provision has been
made to accommodate more than 150,-
600 spectators during the important
meets of the two weeks athletic car
nlval OF this vast multitude close to
10000, or a little less than half, can
be comfortably seated during the com
petitions.
The building, which has been erected
on grounds adjoining the Franco-Brit-
ish exposition, Is composed almost en-
tirely of cement, re-enforced by iron
and steel. 1t is so large that the Gre
elan amphitheater at Athens could be
placed inside the running track of the
English arena. No effort has been
spared to make it the most complete
the New York Evening Sun. The walls
which rise to the height of sixty feet
are built in the shape Of n great oval.
from which thousands of seats de-
scend on an inclined plane to the edge
of the bicycle track. Underneath the
great arches supporting the structure
accommodations will be made for more
than 100 rooms of various sizes for the
| exhibition of all manner of athletic
and sporting paraphernalia and the
quartering of the competing athletes.
In the latter portion of the stadium
the teams of America and the twenty
odd other countries that are expected
to be represented will find the most
superb cOnveniences awaiting them.
The athletes dressing rooms will con-
tain lockers, cots, pool and shower
baths, rubbing tables and every other
training apparatus that past expert
ence can suggest Electric bells and
signboards will be installed in every
room in order that the competitors
may be notified from the judges stand
of the approach of events to which
they may be entered to take part
The athletic arena proper, in which
athletes from all parts of the world
will compete during the month of July.
will he the most complete track and
field that has ever been prepared for
contests of the character which are
scheduled. The work in this depart
ment of the stadium building was COM
menced just about a year ago. when
the foundation for the running and
bicycle tracks was installed and the
turf seeded down in order that the
grass might have ample opportunity to
reach perfection before the date of the
opening games. As a result of the
care and attention devoted to the COM
petltors' right of way, the field is said
to surpass anything of like character
in England, which is already noted for
several modern courses of great ex-
cellence.
The bicycle course which is the
larger of the two tracks, has been built
of smooth cement for width of thir-
ty-fve feet, with the turns banked at
the proper angle for fast speed. This
track measures two and two-third laps
to the mile and will encircle the run
ming track, which is only few feet
less in width and measures one-third
of mile to the lap. Inside the two
courses q perfect sod field has been
laid out which will permit of lacrosse,
football and other classes of field
games being played at the same time
that the tracks are in use if the neces-
sity for the double bill should arise.
Some idea of the extent of the iniield
may be gathered from the fact that its
greatest length measures 235 yards,
while the width at the broadeSt point
IS iust about 100 wards
An innovation in the arrangement Tor
the Olympic games has been the build
ing of an immense swimming pool,
which will be located on the infield di-
recty in front of the grand stand. The
pool, which is entirely constructed of
cement, will be 100 1-3 yards long and
4 trifle more than 80 feet wide. The
depth at each end will be four feet and
will gradually increase until in the
middle of the pool, where the high div
ing contests will he held, 1t Is more
than twelve feet deep. 4 system of
water supply has been installed which
Will permit of a complete change of
water once in every twcnty-four hours,
and, as the swimming races and other
forms Of aquatic sports are to be fea-
tured, it is likely that the natatorium
will be the center of interest for many
days during the great athletic carnival
The great structure. which, when
completed, will have cost more than
S3J0,00O. will be thrown open to the
public on Saturday, May ., when the
first of Il long series OF strictly English
athletic meets will be held in the sta
dium as Il sort of preliminary tryout
for the greater international competi-
tlon which has been set for the month
of July. The programme for the Olym-
nic meets will include every form of
tract; and field competition. cycle rae
Ing, archery contests, lacrosse, football
and open air gymnastics. Such ath-
letic events as are not suitable for the
stadium will hp conductad on tha