The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-13
OLYMPIC GAME
Il. QP[:.!N!l. T00||||IA|||'Y |
Over 1900 Athletes Will Take
Part iii the Twenty-Five
Events.
STADIUM WILL SEAT $4,000
Committee on Rules Decides Two
Contested Cases Against Tie 81
American Team.
Especial to The Times Dispatch

Especial to The Times Dispatch.l
LONDON, July 12.-Athletes from
twenty countries are gathered in and
near London for the Olympic games
believed will prove the greatest games
Of modern times. The competitors
from the four corners OF the globe
constitute a small array IN themselves.
almost every country. following the
example OF America and Great
Britain. having entered in the various
events, the full quota OF men allowed
by the rules, in most cases a, round
dozen. AS there are twenty-five events
on the program. the number OF
athletes taking part will total nearly
1000. many OF the men, of course,
representing their respective countries
in more than one event. l
Great Stadium.
Prelimnaries all have been arranged
for the opening day. The original
idea was to devote this day entirely
to the formal ceremony, but the COM
mittee in charge of the games, event
ually decided to run off some OF the
preliminaries. and the first heat OF
the 1900 metre race will be started
as soon as possible after formalities
are ended. The preparations are OF a.
gigantic scale.
The stadium will seat $4,000 specta-
tors, and there is room for $4,000 more
but no seats. BY making use OF STRIP ST.
surrounding the stadium, standing room
also can be found for $4,000 additional
but this probably will not be neces-
sary. The ground in the stadium pro
vides three athletic tracks. swimming
bath and dressing rooms for 1000 COM
petitors. The turf track for hurdle
racing, the cinder path for running
and the concrete banked for cycling
have been tested and pronounced the
hest in England Several records nj
ready have been broken on these
tracks, and 1t may be confidently pre-
dicted that more will go When the
chosen athletes OF the world meet
there.
Against Americana.
i AS was to be expected. some little
friction has arisen over the rules gov
erning some OF the contests The
Americans have contended that they
ought to be permitted the privilege OF
digging a hole for the pole In the vault
Inc competion, but the Amateur Ath-A
letic Association. the rules Of whlcns
will govern the meeting. has decided
against this.
To be compelled at tho last moment
to adopt a new method OF Vaullihsti
probably will go hard against Giloe
the American yaulter, Who holds tue
worlds championship. and who recent
" made vault of thirteen feet IN
practice The association also has de-
cided against the American protest IN
the question of heat drawings. me
| American committee pointed out that
by the method to be adopted 1t might
| happen that all the athletes OF one
country would be drawn for the same
heat, which would be manifestly IN
fair but the association held that the
Sposstbility was so remote that It need
not be taken into consideration. SIPS
therefore. bearing the names Of the.
various contenders will be ORA Wn from
a hat, with the object of selecting the
competitors in each heat.
The sports are to last fortnight.