The Washington times., 1912-06-28

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, June 2S.-Over
5000 athletes representing twenty-seven
countries will participate in the Olympic
games, which will open here tomorrow.
OF these America is represented by 1S6,
Great Britain 2S7, Austria Hungary 395.
Germany 1S3 France IA, Canada 81.
Denmark $50, and Sweden over 800
The world wide interest displayed in
the games is indicated by the fact that
countries like China, Japan, Turkey, and
Chile have sent representatives There
is a Japanese marathon runner and
Japanese sprinter, while Turkey is max
ing a bid for the wrestling champion
ship, and China will try to beat the
Swedes and Danes at gymnastics. Ow-
ing to the handy situation of Stockholm,
the Scandinavian races are strongly
represented, and Sweden, Norway, Den
mark, Finland, and Russia are expected
to carry off a good share of the prizes.
The program, which will be completed
by July %, contains most of the events
and prizes competed for in previous
Qlympiads, but In addition there will
be number of new competitions for
which trophies have been presented by
the Kings of Sweden and Italy, the
Car of Russia, the Emperor of Aus
tria, the Emperor of Germany. Count
Geza Andrassy, the Swedish Cavalry,
Countess de casa Miranda, tne city Oh
Budapest and Baron Pierre de Cou-,
bertin. president of the International
olympic committee.
Many Novel Contests.
These new competitive events provide
some novel contests, including the Pen
tathlon, series of five events-running
broad jump, throwing the javeln, 200
meters fiat race, throwing the discus,
and 1,500 fiat race. The modern Pen
tathlon-pistol shooting, swimming,
fencing, riding, and cross country
race. And the Decathlon, a series of
ten events including running broad
jump and high jumps, throwing the
javelin and discus putting the weight,
pole jump, 1lO-meters hurdle race lO'
400 and 1,500-meters fiat races.
These mixed contests are expected TO
favor the Swedes and Danes, who go in
for all-around proficiency in sports,
rather than specializing in different
events as the Anglo-SaXon athletes are
Inclined to do, and in this connection
the Swedish committee has been crttt-
cised for arranging the whole program
on lines faVoring their own countrymen.
However, the committee, of which the
crown prince is president, has beaten all
previous efforts in the way of arrange
ments for the games, and the mag
nificent stadium in which the contests
will take place is quite the finest struc-
ture of Its kind in the world. Erected
at a cost of $25O0O0, it has taken two
years to build. The arena Is 225 feet
long by 493 feet wide. The running track
is about 425 yards to the lap and thirty
feet wide.
Resembles Castle.
It's general appearance Is that of a
medieval castle built into a rocky hill
and the violet bricks and purplish-gray
granite gives the structure a most pic
turesque effect. Two great watch tow
ers mark the eastern entrance, and
these are surmounted by two gigantic
figures of Ask and Embla-the Scan-
dinavian Adam and Eve Grotesque
heads adorn the many supporting pill
lars and tall Venetian masts bearing
flags of all nations enCircle the arena.
The only fault to be found is the
lack of seating accommodation. Being
intended for permanent sports
ground. the designer. Torben Grut
thought that seats for 5000 would be
sufficient, but the enormous influx OF
foreign visitors makes it already APP
y, parent that the stadium will not hold
Them all. Local sports meetings fire.