The Daily Missoulian., 1912-05-12
A FINE ORGANIZATION
National Association Of Clubs II the
Last Word in Everything and Every
Sort Of 4 Game 10 Run Under lts
Influence and Supervision.

nus aDsoIutc cOntTOt OIL the t1Itn Olym-
piad. to be held this summer at Stock
holm, ana which viii be the mecca of
the pick of the competitors Of many
sports from at least two score of ma
tions. helps to forward the cause Of
sport generally through the medium OF
. lottery, the annual income from
which assures the National Associa-
tion Of the Swedish Gymnastic and
Athletic clubs OF $500. which Is used
for administrative purposes.
II 10 this association which has
helped to place athletics In Sweden on
very firm basis and has united the
special associations representing va
rious branches Of sport which are
without expensive arrangements and
apparatus. BY this means It has been
possible to introduce uniform rules,
proihote the cooperation between the
associations, and by means of one
port promote. and direct the athletic
life OF the country.
The athletic clubs are affiliated
with the special associations and also
with the respective district associa-
tIons. Each club pays a very low fee
70 the association to which II Is
affiliated. In order for an athletic
club to become a member OF a special
association II is necessary for the club
to show that II really practices the
form OF athletics 1t processes to ex-
crcise
Tho crown prince OF Sweden has
been the president of the national
association and It's board ever since
the formation Of this body.
There are thus special associations
for athletics. canoeing. cycling
fencing. football. golf. gymnastics
lawn tennis. rowing. skate sailing
skating and swimming. eacle of which
has the Independent care of its spe-
cial branch of sport and represents
Its branch In all dealings abroad. but
co-operates with the board of the ma
tional association.
The district associations. q in num-
ber. are for the most part divided
into branches whose limits agree with
those Of the Swedish provinces. To
each district association are affiliated
all the athletic clubs existing within
Its boundaries. II Is the task Of
these district associations. controlled
by the special associations to be the
directing power for every branch OF
sport In their respective districts, to
see that championship meetings. etc.
are arranged. and also to decide ques-
tions regarding athletics that may
arise within the respective territories.
Tho administration Of the district
associations Is In the hands of COM
mittce elected at a general meeting
of the clubs affiliated with the district
association, or. in the case of tho
larger district association. is UNDER
taken by special committees for the
various branches Of sport.
In order to encourage the exercise
OF athletics In general. and more espe-
cially tho keeping up OF these pur-
suits after attaining manhood. the
national association has issued an
athletic badge" which may be
awarded to every sportsman who Is a
Swedish subject. belongs to some club
affiliated with the national assocla-
tion. and who has merited the dis
s''~s'op ~ nSSoluuuSc Will Vic cVIur
tions mentioned below. The badge
has three distinct grades. and. In
agreement with these. Is awarded h,
bronze. silver and gold.
The bronze badge may be given to
every athlete who. during the course
Of one and the same calendar year.
passes one test in each group of ex-
ercises The sportsman who during
each and every one Of four years
(whether In succession or not) passes
one test In each group. is entitled to
the silver badge. while the one who
satisfies the same conditions, during
each OF eight years (whether success
sive or not) is entitled to gold
badge.
That athlete. however, who during
the course Of the year. when he
reaches his thirty-second birthday, or
at a later date, passes one test in
every group. shall also Ibe awarded the
gold badge. irrespective OF whether ne
has previously obtained the other
badges or not.
The tests which must be passed In
order to gain the athletic badge are
divided into the following five groups:
(D Swimming 200 meters (swimminig
tesD or gymnastics; (2) high jump,
minimum 1856 centimeters. or long
jump. minimum AS centlmeters: (3)
running 100 meters, maximum. :13, or
running 400 meters. maximum time
:65, or running l.5O0 meters. maximum
time Sis: ~ fencing or throwing the
d'scts, minimum 40 meters. or throw
ing the javelin. minimum 80 meters,
or putting the weight. minimum i6
meters; (5) running 10000 meters,
maximum time 5000, or swimming
1000 meters, maximum time $500. or
skating 10000 meters. maximum time.
$500. or running on skis. 10000
meters cross country, maximum time
e:l5:OO. or cycling Con road) 20.o0A
meters, maximum time 5000, or taking
part In the final Of the league foot
ball match or In a match for the
Swedish football championship.