Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04
SWEDISH ATHLETES
WILLING TO LEARN
Fifth 0Iympiad a Great Boon
to Amateur Sport in
That Country.
By Edward r. Bushnell.

The selection OF STOCKHOLM rs the SITE
and the announcement Of new regnla-
tons for the fifth Olympiad have opened
avenue of escape for both England
and the United States from the inter
rational quarrel which has been raging
ever since the games in London last
summer, and apparently both the dispu-
tants arc glad of the opportunity 10 let
The disagreeahle subject drop. Both sides
arc glad enough to have the games
awarded to the Swedish capital and trust
70 the fairness Of the Mortimer to avoid
u repetition OF the 1905 troubles
To the athletic world in general there
is a very hazy idea as 10 the status of
amateur. athletics in Sweden and the or
Sanizat'op the Swedes have perfected for
Holding these games. IT Is only wi hin
the last twenty years that the Swedes
have made any pretense at promoting
amateur athletes. 1t is fitting in thi
respect. that the revival of the Olymp e
games. first held in 1875 at Athens should
have brought about this revival Sweden
was represented ut this meeting but her
athletes were like infants compal ed to
those from America and England. They
brought home no prizes, but they ac-
CURED more Information on athletic mat
ter' than they could mentally digest for
the time be ng
Fortunately for them the Swedes were
willing and anxious to learn from the
success of the other coutries Primarily
their leaders set about perfecting some
sort OF an organization for tn develop
ment and control of amateur sports In
this they copied for the most part the
Amateur Athle. ic Tn on of the United
states The d. fferent ports were allow
ed Their own separate oryaniza lions but
all subscribed to the same general anna
feur code. This code Of amateurism is
A. no
teur Athletic Union.
The Sweds h association made it's aim
the development of d powerful. athletic
team that would bring hoI or+ to Swe-
a gen at future olympic meets. 1t was a
hard task and the hardy Mortimer met
with little success at Paris IN 1900 They
were not represented at ST. Louis in
lDi- In 1906 they sent a team to the
speclai games at Athens and did excep-
lionaliy we'll. Their success at Athens
nred their ambition to win more hono-s
at London in 1905. Subsequently, they
resolved to learn all they could f,on
America and England by sending athletes
10 cash o. these countries to study for
e!gn methods To this end SoGerstrop,
pole Vauiter. came TO America and made
ms headquarters at Yale where most of
the world champions in this event have
been developed. This method. systemo.l
caiiy followed. gave Sweden a weIl-round-
ed and able team from the Olympic
games Furthermore. II enabled Sweden
10 finish third in the London meet.
But the Swedes We're rot content with
these honors. For several years rhev
had been dreaming of the time when
they would not hold the games in Stock
holm, and they wanted t. celebrate the
event. not Only by making a good show
ing themselves. but also by so manag ny
the meet that no one could complain,
me International council has now given
them the chance they wanted. and they
are furthermore assured of the good will
OF the rest Of the athletic world in their
undertaking.