New-York tribune., 1912-08-17
TIMELY BITS OF SPORT
coIoneI Thompson Arrives Home
from Olympic Games.
cnNGRATULATES SWEDES
neclares Big Athletic Fixture
Was Handled and Organized
Magnificently.

l.oiorel Robert NJ. Thompson. chairman
=, tho American Olympic Committee, who
..,bered the boys Of the team while they
a-.re at Stockholm. returned 10 New York
.,s,srdav on TIE steamer Mauretania.
"a discussed the Olympic games as a
-so,a and declared that they are not
,rlv beneficial from a physical stand
,osrt but from an International and dip
ionatic standpoint as well.
I, casually reviewing the games as he
food leaning against the wall in one of
n. companlonways, quietly putting a
,irsr. Colonel Thompson credited the
sasdes with tho greatest measure OF sue
,sss for the magnificent way they organ
,,As and carried out the whole proceed
,,gs from beginning 10 end. They ar
-.nged the rules. Colonel Thompson said.
"a mat no one nation could have any
hing 10 object TO- and he VAS sure that a
cleaner set Of games has not been held
dncs the revival Of the ancient Olympiad.
every nation uaj protection under the
-egularons sac ,Ao colonel, and there
we're no nasty disputes. no irritation or
,ntagonism. and all were on the very
bss, o. terms. The whole affair was like
the gamool.ass Of one large family. l do
,bpk there has never been a competition
n modern times ike it
According 10 the colonel. the English
,san was composed OF mighty fine fc!-
'ovs. VINO did not show the best that was
N them, and the real excuse for their not
4 seriousness. They really did not thinH
he competitions important enough. Colo
5el Thompson declared that JACKSON, the
English mludle distance runner, was d
'EonuerfuI fellow
The English have adopted a peculiar
altitude tow ard athletics" said the
colonel They like 10 play cricket and
football. and do not go in much for run
ming and jumping. II used 10 be said that
Engish battles we're won on the green at
Elon so athletic games are won in the
Urinary scncois, ana tho ten-year-old boy
games than his father. And once the
boy gets into training he remains in II.
some OF the greatest American athletes
II To-Day aic sunOoilOys.
The English got the idea that the
American team WAS especially trained Tor
he events Il Stoclih olu That is not the
case ont Of the III American track and
field athletes q were under graduates,
representing 80 different states, OF the
athletes connected with clubs - were re-
cent graduates and were fresh from their
collegiate athletic training, while the 9TH
ers had not had the oporIunlty 10 30 10
college But the team was Ike happy
family and the spirit OF unanImity was
strong in them.
'1ne american team disappointed the
Swedes in oniy one particular. Tney had
Theodore Roosevelt entered for the
games, and expected 10 md the former
PRESIDENT amons the ranks Of the COM
peutors. Il happened through mistake
il the transmission Of caUlegram ask
Dg for the inclusion Of the name OF The-
loorc Roosevelt PelL the lawn tennis
player. by .he tirle tie name reached
Stockholm the word 'Peu had been
clipped of, and the Swedes thought the
former President would be with them.
We would nave won with half the
aumoer Il athletes" Colonel Thompson
went on. "as usually in the seml-nnals
there would be cIgnt or ten Americans
snd only one SNede or one Of any ma
tOnality."