New-York tribune., 1908-07-13
OLYMPIC GAMES TO-DAY
KING WILL OPEN THEM.
american Hopes Run High as
Worlds athletes Wait for Word.

London July 12.-AthIetes from twenty coun-
tries are gathered in and near London for the
Olympic games. which open tomorrow and
which, it is believed will prove the greatest ath-
letic struggle of modern times. The competitors
from the four corners Of the globe constitute a
small army in themselves. almost every country,
following the example of America and Great
Britain, having entered in the various events
the full quota Of allowed by the rules. In
most cases round dozen AS there are twenty
five events en- the programme the total number
of athletes taking part will be nearly two thou
sand. many of the men. of course. representing
their respective countries IN more than one
event
All premnaries have been arranged for the
opening day. The original idea was to devote
this day entirely to the formal cereponies. in
cluding parade of the athletes before the King.
but the committee in charge Of the games
eventually decided to run off some of the pre-
limnaries, and the first heat of the 1,5O0-rnetre
race will be started as possible after for
maIities ended. The parade. which will be
the largest Of its kind held. is 20 be the
feature OF the ceremonies. The representatives
of the various countries will form into groups.
divided according to the sports in which they
competing, and will carry their national
banners.
Stadium will seat sixty-eight thousand specta-
tors. and there is for -twenty-three thou
sand more, who will have to stand By making
use of strip surrounding the Stadium stand
ing room also can be found for fifty thousand
additional. but this probably will not be neces-
sary. The grounds within the Stadium provide
three athletic tracks, a swimming bath and
dressing rooms for two thousand competitors
The turf track for hurdle racing, the cinder path
for running and the concrete banked track for
cycling have all been tested and pronounced the
best in England Several records have already
been broken on these tracks. and it may be con-
fdentIy predicted that more will go when the
chosen athletes of the world measure each
others prowess-
AS was To be expected. some little friction has
arisen over the rules governing some of the con-
tests. The Americans have put in claim that
they ought to be permitted the privilege of dig
gng hole for the pole in the vaulting cOmpeti-
tion but the Amateur Athletic Association OF
Great Britain. the rules of which will govern
the meeting, has decided against this To be
compelled at the last moment to adopt new
method of vaulting will probably go hard against
Gilbert, the American vaulter, who recently
made vault of thirteen feet in practice
The association also has decided against the
American protest in the question of heat draw
ings The American committee pointed out that
by the method to be adopted it might happen
that all the athletes of one country would be
drawn for the same heat, which would be mani
testify unfair but the association held that the
possibility of this was so remote that II need not
be taken into consideration. Slips. therefore.
bearing the names of the various contenders,
will be drawn from hat. with the object Of Sc
Iecting the competitors in each heat
The sports are to continue for a fortnight. 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 simultane-
ously but as the unsuccessful are weeded out
and the interest grows only one event of i'm
portance will be contested at a time. The prices
of seats have been fixed by experts selected from
athletic associations in consultation with two
committees. They range from p cents to 50 for
the afternoon performances and about half that
amount for the morning
The American team is attracting by far the
greatest attention. 1t is realized that il is the
Americans that the Englishmen have 10 fear
more than any other team, and experts have al
ready practically conceded them the shorter
runs the weight putting and some Of the jump
ing events The Americans have been putting
the finishing touches TO- their training at Brigh-
ton and will come TO London only as the events
in which they are entered call them in.
PRAISE FOR VICTORIOUS RIFLEMEN.