The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-08
LONDON'S GREAT ARENA

From the New ork Evening Post.
Nothing more extraordinary, as con-
structfve feat, is to be seen just now in
London than the city within a city, which
is rising as rapidly as Aladdn's palace on
the open spaces of Shepherds bush. AAs-
founding advance has been made in the
last few months in the erection of the
huge constructions that cover 140 acres OF
what was desert land less than u months
ago.
Eight spacious halls, each 400 feet by 70
feet, are already outlined in steel, iron
and concrete. For many the external
decorations have already been affixed to
the fireproof structural walls. One quar-
ter million square feet of floor space has
been rooted over for the machinery hall
alone other palaces are rising rapidly
for education. fine arts, music and wom-
ans work.
In it's present condition, with only the
two great segments finished at each end
of the might ellipse, the Olympic arena
irresstibly reminds the spectator of the
Coliseum, as that venerable monument of
imperial Rome now looks in the splendor
of it's majestic ruins But the Coliseum,
with all its tiers of arches, could beyeasily
contained within the completed arena of
today
The stadium of modern Athens, seats
and all, could be built within the space of
grass that forms merely the center of
Londons latest marvel. The amphithea-
tire of Mines or Aries could be hidden
away at one end of the Shepherds bush
arena, and scarcely interfere with its pro-
portions. Some $4,000 people will be able
to sit around its spacious seats and watch
the greatest athletic gathering the world
has ever seen.
According to the reports from the vari
Gus countries interested in sports in all
parts of the world, the assembly of ath-
letes will be the greatest, both in quality
and quantity, that ever competed for in
ternatonal honors. France, Germany,
| Greece, the United States and many other
nations, aside from England and the
/. British colonies, will be represented by
hot Of entrants, skilled in strength,
speed and endurance, and the winner of
any special event can well be termed
champion of the world in his particular
speciality.
The Olympic games will be held under
the auspices of the British Olympic coun-
ell. The American committee, which mas
been appointed in accordance with the
wishes of Lord Desborough, as president
of the Olympic council, Is a representa-
tive one, the honorary president being
Theodore Roosevelt, President of the
United States; Caspar Whitney, president,
and Julian w. Curtis of Yale, treasurer.
No athletes of the United States will
be permitted to compete in the Shepherds
bush stadium through an individual en-
try. He must be a member Of the Amer
lean team and entered as such by the
American Olympic committee. Only ma
tive-born or naturalized Americans, either
residents of the United States or having
migrated to foreign countries within re-
cent years. will be eligible for the team
| While it is not likely, thatNany of them
will be used, the United States has quite
a few athletes in England itself. who, in
case of necessity or in the event of them
showing such class that they would be
entitled to places on the team. can be
| called upon to compete under the Stars
and Stripes at the Olympic games-the
| Rhodes scholarship men. Under the rul-
| ing of Lord Desborough these men arc
| eligible. None of the Rhodes men are
world beaters but in Intercollegiate meets
| they have been placed we'll most of the
| time.