Atlanta Georgian., 1913-10-12
lanes {. Sullivan Tells Of What
International Congress Will Do
for Amateur Sport-Importance
Is Overlooked.
HOT TUSSLE OVER WEIGHTS
Citizenship, Standing of Athletes,
Program Of Events and Rules,
Of Contests Matters Discussed
at Berlin.
By James f. Sullivan.

-
n My time can demonstrate the
beneficial results to athletics
throughout the world. from the
formation of the International FEEDER
alton Of American Athletes, the first
congress of which was held recently
al Berlin.
had the honor of being one of the
American delegates. and have no hes
itation in saying that the meager re-
ports published in the American pa
pers of the proceedings in no way
conveyed an idea of the importance of
the session.
One had to be present to under
stand this great conclave of the ma
tions of the world collected in one
building, and with but one thought
uppermost in their minds. and that
was the betterment and standardiza-
ton OF track and field sport. l might
say that this vast organization, which
covers the entire earth, is yet but in
embryo, but it will gradually assume
the proper shape.
Second Convention in Paris.
Next year we are to have our sec
ond convention in Paris, France, and
by that time we expect to have the
rules and bylaws whipped into shape.
Perhaps for the first time in athletic
history the proper definition of an
amateur will be known, and for once
and all the athletes of the world will
be confronted with satisfactory rules
TO guide them.
A long and very interesting discus
sion took place when 1t came to de-
Gliding as TO what constituted inter
al A4k D. 81. I
In the case where an athlete goes
from one country to another, and in
the new cline fulfills the rights, ac-
cOrding to law of naturalization, and
arms himself with the right to com
pete in the Olympic games for the
land of his adoption.
The Europeans and the English saw
no reason why man should be al
lowed to compete for his adopted
country, and they were willing to vote
for a rule which stipulated that an
athlete could only compete for the
land of his birth. | could not agree to
the rule, and saw trouble right away
between England and the United
States If the rule was passed. For
Instance, how would it be with the
athletes of the Gaelic Athletic Asso-
citation of Ireland who admit no affiH-
ISOLATION OF England when they want
ed to come to America. The Gaelic
man, from an American standpoint.
may be as good an amateur as the
Englisnman, yet why should we dis
crlminate against the Gael? Finally,
the rule was passed, but the United
states and England were exempted,
and Gaelic men can come here and
compete without a permit from Eng
land.
No Reason for Politics.
| see no reason why the Interna-
uonal Federation should involve itself
IN politics at all. If Ireland and Eng
land should hapepn TO have drawn
politics into sport, it is not the busi-
ness of the International Federation
or of America to interfere.
AS far as l could see on my last
trip abroad, Ireland is on the way
TO Home Rule, and then as a coun-
try the Green Isle will be entitled
10 what constitutes a country, and,
OF course, will be at liberty to have
a team in all future Olympic games
II Canada, South Africa and Aus
ualia, British dependencies, are en-
titled to have their own team, It
strikes me that 1t would be wrong
Tor England to try to have Ireland
the oldest athletic country on earth,
Kept out of Olympic competition.
am sure that If 1t should come to
pass no nation will object to see the
Green Flag flying at Berlin in 1916.
think the Germans won't, for one.
In deciding on the standard list OF
events, we had several funny discus
Slons. OF course, the American dele
cation fought hard to have the stand
Ing high and standing broad jumps
retained on the international pro-
gram. We contended that the
events had been on the programs
at Paris, Athens Q9O6), England and
Stockholm, in the Olympic games, and
that they deserved being perpetuated.
Smaller Countries Against Us.
Il was useless for us to try and
stem the tide, for all the smaller coun-
tries were dead set against them,
partly on the ground that they were
gymnastic stunts and had no place
a athletics proper. The same sort OF
n argument was directed against the
walks, but not so strongly as against
the standing jumps. Finally the jumps
We're abolished, and the walks will be
Part of the standard program.
The real tussle of the convention
came when the question Of the am
bidexterous style of throwing weights
was introduced. The Scandinavians
we're strong for the right and left
handed competitions with the discus,
shot and javelin. In arguing against
these two-handed weight events,
pointed out that if they were retained
the precedent was opened for other
competitions on the same line.
l said that if we allowed the two
handed contests in weights we had
better prepare for jumping off the
right and left feet, and also a couple
Of hopping races off the right and left
feet, and so on. The remarks created
quite a laugh. which was thought to
he +hn nhinf rnnnnc Of haInirrr tn