The Washington herald., 1908-07-24
The Olympic Games


IF there was one thing in the Olympic I
games. now being held in London. that /
commended them to the nonsport-loving
public. It was the proposition that il
fair and honest competition between the
best athletes OF England and America.
there lay the great possibility OF fur
rhering the ''hands-across-the-sea idea
IN other words. that through our ath-
letes meeting in friendly competition.
there would come that better under
standing Of each other and that warm
friendship which has always seemed so
desirable between the various branches Of
the Enslish-speaking race.
Il IS unfortunate, then. 10 find that so
far from creating an era Of good viii
the Olympic games IN Londoa have ere
a-ed nothing but blcke-ing and soreness
of feeling and bitter thoughts Ever
since The games We're opened by King
Edward Of England TIE record OF each
days sport has been q record OF protest
and bitterness More than once the sug-
gesJion has been made that the American
competitors should withdraw on account
OF alleged unfai-ness On the part of those
having the games in charge Il has been
predicted that never again would Amer
lean athletes be induced 10 go over 10
compete with their English COusins-at
least not On British soil
We do not believe that the managers
Of the Olympic games have any intention
Of being unfair OF unsportsnanlike The
whole trouble seems to be largely the re-
suit Of m.sunderstauding- The matters
in dispute are in themselves trivial, If
anything can be considered trivial n in
ternatloaal sports. into which patriotic
pride enters very largely
There IS the question OF scoring. for in
stance The English committee decided
It viii award points in the score only on
certain games. and then viii score by q
method peculiarly Its own. which ap-
parentIy works hardship 10 the Amer
lean competitors. IN rhar II leaves but a
scant chance Of carrying Of many hon
ors- These matters should certainly have
been adjusted BY agreement, before our
athletes sailed for British shores. Then,
too. the comm0a-se1se view OF the tug
Of-war, one Of the most important OF the
contests. IS against the contentious OF
the English COMMITTEES. Il was distinctly
stated by the rules that competitors in
this game should not wear specially pre-
pared boots. and our American athletes.
obeying the rule. found their antagonists
equipped with heavy stsel-spiked shoes,
against which they had absolutely 10
chance In competition-
There are many other differences, most
Of them as trivial as those mentioned,
but the sum Of Il all has resulted IN
creating feeling that our men IN Eng
land have been trtcEed and robbed. They
have not had q fair deal. and the result
viii be that the contentious over the re-
suits Of these games are likely 70 be
never ending. Thus. the real purpose
Of the Olympic games has been defeated.
and instead OF creating a more friendly
feeling between the two nations. who,
above all others in the world. should be
good friends. the opposite has been at
tanned. British spOrtsmen have always
had the reputation OF being strong for
fair play. and We cannot help but be-
leve that in some way before the games
are over, those having them IN charge
VIII discover a method TO eradicate n 2
measure the bitter feeling now SO mani
fest