The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-09-25
SWEDEN READY
FOR OLYMpIAD

NEW YORK, Sept 25.-The selec-
ton of Stockholm as the site, and the
announcement of new regulations for
the fifth Olympiad, have opened an
avenue of escape for both England ana
the United States from the interna7
ticnal quarrel which has been raging
summer. And apparently both the dis
putants are glad of the opportunity
to let the disagreeable subject drop.
Both sides are glad enough to have
the games awarded to the Swedish cap
ital and trust to the fairness of the
mortimer to avoid a repetition of the
1908 troubles.
To the athletic world in general
there is very hazy idea as to the
status of amateur athletics in Sweden
and the organization the Swedes have
perfected for holding these games. 1t
is only within the last 20 years that
the Swedes have made any pretense
at promoting amateur athletics. 1t is
fitting, in this respect, that the re-
vival Of the Olympic games, first held
in 1896 at Athens, should ha re brought
about this revival. Sweden was repre-
scented at this meeting, but her athletes
We're like infants compared to those
brought home no prizes, but they ac-
Quired more information on athletic
matters than they could mentally di-
gest for the time being.
Fortunately for them the Swedish
the success of the other countries. Pri-
marily their leaders set about perfect
ing some sort of an organization for
the development and control of anna
teur sports. In this they copied for the
most part the Amateur Athletic union
of the United States. The different
sports were allowed their own separ-
ate organizations. but all subscribed to
the same general amateur code. This
code of amateurism is practically the
same as that of the A. A. L.
The Swedish association made its
aim the development of powerful
athletic team that would bring hOnors
to Sweden at future Olympic meets. 1t
was a hard task and the hardy north
men met with little success at Paris
in 1900. They were not represented at
ST. Louis in 1904. In 1906 they sent a
team to the special games at Athens
and did exceptionally well. Their sue
honOrs at London in 1908. Consequently
they resolved to learn all they could
from America and England by send
ing athletes to each of these countries
to study foreign methods. To this end
SoderStrOm, q pole vaulter, came to
America and made his headquarters at
Yale, where most of the world cham
pions in this event have been de-
ve!oped. This method, Systematically
followed, has given Sweden well
rounded and able team for the Olym-
pic games and enabled Sweden to fin
iSh third in the London meet
But the Swedes were not content
with these honors. For several years
they had been dreaming of the time
when they could hold the games at
Stockholm, and they wanted to cele-
a good showing themselves, but also
by so managing the meet that no one
could complain. The international coun-
eli has now given tham the chance
they wanted. and they are further
more assured of the good will of the
rest of the athlet world in their un-
dertaking.
Both by temperament and experience
the Swedes are well fitted to conduct
the 1912 games. Their temperament is
the most important consideration. 1t
was temperament OF the unyielding
sort that made most. of the trouble be-
tween England and the United States
last year, though the trouble was the
persistence of the English manage
ment in conducting the games without