Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-30
GREECE'S ANNUAL
OLYMPIC GAMES
Separate From International
Council, and America Will
Be Represented.
By Edward r. Bushnell.

By Edward r. Bushnell.
Many mis- nformsd persc ms are locking
Tor serious clash of authority between
the athletic rulers of his country and
England over the coming so-called "Olym
pic games to be held in Athens mex
year. In view Of the quarrels tina;
ra.ned the previous good feeling be
tween the .wo countries almost to the
breaking point last summer there is an
impression abroad that it will be re-
peated next year. because it is reported
that England will send a big cam I,
Greece, ard the United Sta es may, as
usual, be counted upon to keep up its
end OF the big meet.
The incorrect conclusions referred to are
due to he misrepresentation that the l9lo
games are to be held und-r tie auspices
# the international Olympic council. Bui
such IS not tie case. These games o-igi-
mated with the Greek government an,
ley will be under he absolute jurlsdic-
tiCn Of that country. In TACT. they VIII
| pe controlled by the same men wlo RAJ
the 1905 games al Athens. The Greeks
now have an Olympic cyc.e of t.:eir own
and it is lie plan Of King Gecrge and ms
advisers to ho.d set OF games every fou.
ears. to come o-tWeen the celebra
Ion of the quadrenniai cycle OF O.ympi.
I
e. national Olympic council.
Although the A. A. U. of this country
as taken no action concerning the Greek
meet 1t may be assumed that this coun-
ny will be represen. ed. and by a trs,
e.ass team a. tat. The courtesy The
Americans received at Athens in 1916 was
such that they are assured or absoiutei!
impartial treatment. Three years ago the
4reek officials consulted the WISHES of The
Americans, and II is limited Tat the in
.luence the Americans mad with thu
,reeks then was responsible, in som.
n oasure, tor the att. ude OF the English
-uward the representatives Of this country
year ago.
Games to Be Held in Spring.
It is the expectation that the gam s
will be held IN the spring. The probani.
month is 81 ay, as in 19uv and also in 1870
the year in which the Oiympics were re
vived. The early date is due to the fac.
that il held In July the neat would be
.ntolerable. This fact of Itself is Ger
IAN to weaken the American team "
making it Impossible to use the c0Ie-se
men. 1t is likely that the American com
mIttee will D. obnged to make ruling
similar TO that of l0Ju-that undereiauu
ate athletes be Obliged to bel the conSen.
Of their faculties before beng allowed to
JOIN the team. Only TWO colleglans Wer
SO taken in 1876. They were Lientoody or
Chicago University, winner OF the 1,oOV
meters, anu Parsons OF Yale, but tne
latter failed to score.
The loss OF the college men greatly
weakened the team then. but The Amer
cans were still powerful enough TO out
score all their rivals. Next time the
college men will not be missed SO much.
This is not que To any Io~erIns OF the
standard OF college teams. but to the
,dislng Of the stanuaro OF the CLUB atm
.etIcs. Until a few years aSO the col
.egIans had to be depeaued upon to up
!, 1ANio S.tty fnIE t-tr
but 1t is SO no +onser. On the 1908 Oiynl-
p.c team the co!IeSianS ana the ciuumei
we're about equal In number, and TIE
-olleglans had just the slightest margin
Of superiority in scoring power. Sine.
.hen Ln>r re has been tremendous re-
oval IN club athletics, and Is aoubttu
If the collegians could win many points
hat clubmen wouiu lose in such a meet.
There is no doubt that this countrs
will have a harder time TO win next yea.
than last SUNNI at London. This Is
due to the fact that England mas bee.
;, AIMING ever since the l3Ue meet to &c.
revenge on the Americans at athens mex.
spring. Primarily the English assocl-
alton has at It's disposal some thirty
thousand dollars to defray tn expense.
II the team to Greece. This consists ..
the profits from the 15Oo OIymp.au
which were voted to defray the expense.
Of sending the English teams to future
Olympic me. is.
The CnI,ed States will be obliged 10
IulnlSn us Own cApGHScSs anu Tic ActHOL
ii raising funds will be largely through
subscriptions. There is no reason to tear
enough. that tn funds will be INSULT
llent All The Americans neeu to say l..
hat they must have the money to enabl.
,nem to once more trounce the BritCns.
and they will get all they need. Tn
olympic games have now reached a stage
here they enaenuer as much interna-
| l.onal rivalry as war.
England Harder to Beat.
| The quarrel between the two countries
| s likely to make the Britons harder t.
| .efeat than heretofore. AS in this coun
| -ry. there has been great revival IN
| athletic enthusiasm on the other side,
| and with unlimited money at it's dispose
ne English committee would make sure
ii having the best team available.
The same may be said OF the other
| european countries especially Sweden
1 nd Greece. Both these countries have
cen coming to the front rapidly within
| ne last few years, and each improved its
| position at London. Greece, especially. has
! cen a very close student of American
-rhletes and their framing methods. anu
/ ne Aellenes are much improved on that
| account
/ Taken al in all the 1910 meet is sure
| o attract quite as much attention as
| id the games at London last July, even
| though they are not the official cycle.
More International Athletics.
Notwithstanding the international quar-
/ ,el of last year. negotiations are now
under way for two more international.
meets. The interested parties are Harvard
| and Yale on this side and Oxford and
| Cambridge on the other. Harvard is
| cnGeavoring to arrange a boat race with
| me winner Of the OxIord-Camb Qua
ace. while Yale Is negotiating for a
| rack meet between the combined Har-
| .ald- Yale and Oxford-C ambridge teams.
! IN both instances the kngllshmen have
minated their Willingness to arrange the
i.eetings desired.
1t viii be recalled that the American
collegians enaeavored to bring about
simuar meetings last summer. but the
, Britons declined. The proposed boat race
IS attracting more attention than the
! track meet, for the simple reason that
the standard of boating at all the uni
versties concerned is higher than in
track athletics. There is one condition
suggested in the negotiations for the
ooat race. Harvard has announced that
4 she loses the annual race TO Yale she
Will drop all thought of an international
race. The Crimson would desire Yale to
agree to meet the British crew in case
| of victory but the Ellis have already
| announced that they have no desire to
| compete in such race. Consequently
| the contest will not take place II Yale
| wins.
Judging from the rather mediocre per-
! formances In the Oxford-Cambridge dual
meet a week ago the Americans would be
superior in this branch of athletics Two