Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-13
OLYMPIC CONTESTS
COMMENCE TODAY.

in readiness for the opening of the in
ternational Olympic games at the Sta
dunn at Shepherds Bush on Monday.
The athletes are fit to hair and folks
of every nationality have foregathered
from the ends of the earth to witness
the great exhibitions on the field and
track. The weather promises to be
very good on Monday when the open
ing events on the program are carried
ont. lmre Kiralfy, commissioner-gen-
eral of the Great White City, is the
busio st man in London today.
Speaking of the plans for the Olym-
piad, he is certain of success. And
there is no reason why he should not
be, fer reservations have been made
for 100000 seats, and people are pour
ing into London from all nations to
witness the great contests of Drawn.
He said: mot only is the Stadium
the largest in the world but it is the
most complete sporting ground for
such events as we have carded for the
fortnight 1t provides for three tracks
Il swimming bath and dressing accom-
modations for 1000 men,
Already hundreds of athletes have
tested the fra@s track for the hurdle
races and the cinder track for running.
There is much feeling over the ru
mored ineliSibility of Tom Longboat.
the romantic Canadian athlete. But as
LcnSboat is scheduled for the Mara
thon race. which does not take place
until the Gath. there is much time for
arbitration and revision.
Mike Murphy. the trainer of the
OINmrin team has ut last hrnLpn his
silence. He is freely expressing the
opinion that the Americans will win
the greater number of points at the
great meeting in the English Stadium
at Shepherds Bush.
"Ail the boys have regained their
land legs" said Murphy. in talking to
Yankee rooter, "and they have not
suffered the least by the change of
climate. In fact, they are, with one
or two exceptions. at the very top of
their form. and l am sorry the games
are still a few days off. You know a
lot can happen to a band of athletes
in few hours. They seem peculiarly
prone to accidents.
Biog Bill IIorr of tho Irish American
A. c.. and George Cameron, the crack
cycliSt of the same club both of whom
left America later than the others, are
now training i'll the Stadium, and HOrr
showed the trip across the ocean, as in
the case of most of the other American
athletes, mad done him world Of good.
Although he had not recovered his
land legs. he tossed the discus in the
American stvle the wonderful distance
of 13S feet IT will take a wonderful
Greek to- beat this throw at the big
meeting
Trainer Murphy has decided to have
Rector. the Southern flyer. train only
for the 100-lnctre dash. With this OBJ
ject in view Rector is being given doz-
ems of starts daily in the Stadium
Starting has been his weak point. 1t
, cost him the race at the American
Olympic tryouts in Philadelphia Muir
ply thinks that if Rector can get off
on even terms with the others in the
final. and the trainer has not the
slightest doubt that Rector will get in
the final, he will equal or beat the
Olympic record. Again. Murphy is a
great specialist and thinks one dis
lance is sufficient for a sprinter, to
train for on an important occasion.
Rector will not start in the 2O0-metre
contest.
Dan Kelly. who holds the worlds
record of 3-5 seconds for 100-yards.
is only being trained for the broad
jump Kelly is doing over % feet in
the jump, but has been unable to re-
cover his old speed in sprintng.