The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-13
SITE OF NEXT OLYMPIC GAMES
SWEDEN A NEWCOMER IN IN.
TERN.ATIONAL ATHLETICS.
Track n Field Sports OF Recent Intro.
ducttOn Among the swedes-H what
They Did In 1905 and In Last Years
Gam cs-Norked Hard 10 Get Meet,

They Did I'm 1905 and in Last Year,
q mcs-Norked Hard 10 Get Meet
The fact that the Olympic games Of 1911:
have been given to Stockholm will attrac
quite O lot OF attention to Sweden for the
next three years. that is from a sporting
point Of view. To those not versed In the
politics OF international athletics It may
seem odd that such an out OF the way place
a. Stockholm was selected for a really
worldwide festival. but 1t in no way sur.
priaed those who are acquainted With the
situation. In fact since the Athenlan
celebration three years ago the Swedes
have been laying lines to get the fixture
and were eve in doubt that they
would succeed.
30 sure were they of collaring the 1912
affair that in order to be able to carry IL
out In an up to date name they sent
men TO different countries to learn the
latest wrinkles In sport. Bruno Solder
strom. the pole vaulter. came here and
stayed about a year watching everything
closely and picking up every point worth
while. and all this time there was another
man in England doing the same thing.
II Is by these shrewd methods Of observa :
ton hat tho Swedes have made such
progress Of late years. for 1t is admitted
on all sides that they have come very
rapidly 10 the front.
For generations such winter pastimes
Is ski jumping and running, skating. bob
sled racing, ice yacht sailing and other
kindred sports have been practised, but
track and field athletics in it's modern
form Is rather now in Sweden. Prior TO
1850 an athletic contest vas a thing un-
heard of, and the first sports to be organ
lied and promoted were rowing. skating
and gymnastics. Athletics and football
were unknown till 1890. Six years later.
In 1895. the Swedish Athletic Association
was formed. the first Of its kind. and for
that matter the first national sporting
body formed in Sweden.
1t was not long in possession OF the
field. however. when a new body sprung
into life called the Swedish Gymnastic
and Athletic Association. and it started
out on the same lines as the parent body.
but in direct opposition to it. The premier
organization paid little or no heed to the
new rival and kept on steadily promoting
and encouraging outdoor sports OF all
kinds. This strict attention to business
gained all around popularity for the
Swedish Athletic Association. whose
amateur definition was accepted by all
the clubs except those which devoted
their time exclusively to rowing. All
the football clubs we're members of the
athletic association until 1902, when they
formed an association OF their own. which
has been since known as the Swedish
Ball Game Association.
When the Olympic games we're held at
Paris in 1900 Sweden had some entries,
but they went home without scoring a
solitary point; but as n of the men
said afterward they learned a lot and had
their eyes opened to many of the finer
points OF track and field work which up
to that time they had not sven dreamed
Of. They saw that to figure in the front
rank OF international athletics a man
had to be good. that it was necessary
for him to be we'll versed in the scientific
points Of his speciality along with having
the contest, Everything the Swedes saw
they started to utilize after they reached
home and the practice OF athletics took on
Q decidedly new aspect in Sweden.
Meanwhile the popularity of sport had
asAumed national importance and it was
found necessary to place the governing
power on a more solid basis, so a con
ference was called Of the Swedish Athletic
Association and the Swedish Gynnastic
and Athletic Association. The outcome
Of the conclave was the formation of the
National Sporting Federation OF Sweden,
and 1t was Immediately recognized as
the national body by. all the sporting
.---t. s0rC avlaN fhn fnnfhnH IMAM
They refused to be affiliated with the new
sseociation and openly declared their
defiance 10 its rulings.
This was in 1908, and in the latter part
d hat season a big convention was called
at which were represented the Swedish
Athletic Association Swedish Gymnastic
Association. Swedish Fencing Association,
Swedish Skating Association. Swedish
Cyclists Association. Swedish Swimming
Association, Swedish Ice Sailing Associa-
fon. Swedish Lawn Tennis Associa ton.
Swedish Rowing Association and the
Swedish Golf Association. No manner OF
cooking would induce the football peorIe
from the federation to the pigskin chasers
were rejected with scorn. Then, seeing
al attempts at an agreement beyond hope
the federation started to put the Ball
Game Association VI OF business.
! Tho first step in 1904 was the formation
OF the SWeOlSn OOtDdlI hbbOClh tiOn, Wltfl
Q strict boycotting rule that it was to have
nothing to do with the Ball Game ssocia-
ton or any OF its clubs or members. The
Ball Game Association held its ground in
the early part OF the war, but as time wore
the bigger body gradually got the upper
hand, until In 1905 all the clubs went over TO
The 6wedish Football Association and the
Ball Game Association went out. In 1908 the
Swedish Ski Running Association was
and right on it's heels came the
swedish Wrestling Association. Both
Joined the federation, which at the present
moment has Incorporated all branches OF
GtediAh sport under Its control.
: Tho federation il divided into twenty
districts. with a uniform system OF gov
ernrnent much the same as the national
A..A. u. with regard to It's different asso-
all over America. In Sweden
each district has It's committee for all
branches OF soort and a central COMMITTEES
directly affiliated with the federation.
The big tribunal in the federation Is the
council. which Is elected from the
associations. These associations
govern their special sport themselves, but
3l alterations in the ruled and regulations
must b sanctioned by the federation,
and no club can be elected to membership
IA anv OF the associations without the
sanction OF the federation. Clubs in the
different districts are not asked to pay
annual ICES to the district association. they
onlv pay q subscription to the federation.
/ There ID q uniform amateur definition
applies 10 all glasses OF sportsmen in
but some Of the allied associations
and IT. necessary to supplement clauses