The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-20
big, ATHLETIC GAMES
FOR PANAMA EXHIBIT
TO BE INTERNATIONAL SPORTS

James e. Sullivan. secretary-treasurer
of the Amateur Athletic Union Of the
United States, who has had more expert
ence at managing worlds fair and ex-
position games than any man living, has
accepted the athletic dictatorship of the
Panama Pacific International Exposition.
With Jim" Sullivan holding the reins.
the success Of the great exposition games
Is assured. Already he has proved his
merit as an organizer in more than one
worlds fair. Outside of worlds fair
games. he has shown his master hand
as builder. with the wonderful organi-
zation known as the Amateur Athletic
Union. This union is his work. his struc-
ttre from foundation up, his hobby, and
it has become world famous
In 1900 Director Sullivan was assistant
American director of the Olympiad at
Paris. In 1904 he was appointed head Of
the athletic games of the st. Louis Ex-
position, which were also the Olympic
games of that year. In 1906 he was
American commission to the Athens
Olympiad. In 1908 he was secretary of
the American commissioners at the Lon
don Olympiad, and last year was the
American commissioner to the Olympiad
at Stockholm. He was athletic director
of the Buffalo Exposition in 1901 and of
the jamestown Exposition in 1907.
Worlds Rest to Compete.
The big chief>>is enthusiastic over
the prospects for the holding of Sc
ries of great sport events in San Fran
cisco. and Is of the opinion that the ma
tons of the world at large will send
their best athletes to compete in Sc
ries of international games.
Sullivan announced upon his appoint
ment that he was in favor of scheduling
every form of athletics, and would in
cIude everything on the programme.
from school-children's games to aero
planes. Anything and everything be-
tween earth and sky will find a place
on the sporting calendar of the 1915 ex-
position games.
The modern penthaIon, for which the
Olympic games committee has donated a
special medal, Sullivan thinks, viii be
the big drawing card for the international
athletes This Is medley" affair, TAX
ing in horseback riding. revolver shoot
ing, swimming. and running, and appeals
particularly to the army athletes of Eu-
rope. Though the majority of the Unit
ed States army men are not exactly pro-
ficient in the event, Sullivan expects to
see large entry from our army, as
there is plenty Of time to prepare for IT,
No Sealed Course.
At Stockholm, In the modern penthalon,
the course for the riding was sealed, and
none of the competitors knew where they
were going until the start of the race.
This is unfair, Mr.. Sullivan considers,
particularly to the contestants OF the
foreign nations. The competitors of the
nation holding the event must Of neces.
sity have an advantage in knowing the
style Of country to be negotiated. There
will be no sealed course in the San Fran
cisco 1915 modern penthalon 1t will be
known months in advance and every en-
trant will be given an opportunity to 60
over the ground and become thoroughly
familiar with it.
Attract Worlds Attention.
sports and games on a vast scale"
said Sullivan, will attract attention the
world over. The worlds nations will
participate so extensively at San Fran.
cisco that We anticipate the greatest Sc
ries Of international sport events ever
held in one place and at the one time.
Great cash prizes and trophies will be
awarded"
One factor in the Panama-Pacific ath-
letjc events. which is wholly new, is that
the quarter-mile races, for the first time
in athletic history, can be run on a
track. II expect to see
the records fall like leaves in Autumn"
says Mr.. Sullivan.