The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-03-25
AMATEUR" IS
TO Be DEFINED
Important Matter Before the
Olympic Congress in Lau-
same Next Month.

Among the many important matters
when will be eXhaustively discussed at
the Olympic congress in Lausanne.
Switzerland, during the weeks CONFER
ence of the international Olympic
committee next month it is promised
that none will be OF greater interest
than that which ~revolves about the
question of a comprehensive amateur
definition.
Filings which had no real founda-
ton OF fact have been taken at Amer
lean athletes generally because of the
recently announced detection OF
Jim" Thorpe, who confessed to hav-
ing played baseball for money three
years ago. which fact. had it become
known in time, would have relieved
the American Olympic committee Of
the seeming stigma which 1t had to
acknowledge, as he would. have been
declared ineligible, and America
would not have been accused Of hav-
ing played a professional.
The absolute necessity for just such
national Olympic committee-viz.:
the framing of an amateur definition
which will be comprehensive enough
to be acceptable to the athletic organ
izations OF the world-was shown in
the varied codes drawn by the Swedes
for the several sports held under their
auspices last year.
Variety of Rules.
Under the general regulations Tor
gymnastics in the Stockholm contests
1t was interpreted hat ''gymnastic
teachers n leaders, even though
they receive pay as such, are regard
ed as amateurs" Again, in the row.
ing it was stated that "a professional
Is n who as a seaman, fisherman, or
In any other capacity has in any way,
in the exercise of his calling, engaged
In rowing within two years from the
late of competition"
Such construction as these and the
announced intention of Gustav Lung
strom, a Swedish professional who
won a Polo ground Marathon and
numerous other races for money, to
wait two years. when he will again.
according to his own statement, turn
amateur" make it obligatory for the
committee to frame a code which will
be as exhaustive as that which OBJ
tains in the conditions Of competition
which govern all those who desire 20
compete the United States under the
registration of the Amateur Athletic
union and which reads as follows:
M person shall be eligible to COM
pete in any athletic meeting, game, or
entertainment given Or sanctioned by
this union who has (1) received or
competed for compensation or reward
in any form. for the display, exercise.
OF example of his skill in or knowl-
edge of any athletic exercise, or for
rendering personal service of any kind
to any athletic organization, or for
becoming or continuing a member of
any athletic organization. or received
or accepted any prize or reward for
an exhibition, or otherwise than in a
recognized competitions; or co has en-
tered n competition under q name
other than his own. or from a club of
which he was not at that time a men,
Der in good standing; OF CD has
knowingly entered any competition
open to any professional or profess
sioEals. or has knowingly competed
with any professional for any prize or
token; or CD has issued Or allowed to
be issued in his behalf any challenge.
to compete against any professional or
for money, Or has agreed to become a
professional. or has agreed to enter
employment of any kind that would
make him Il professional; or CD has
pawned. bartcrcd. or sold n prize
woE in athletic competition; or Co is
not a registered athlete"
In former days there was no dis
itnction between amateurs and pro-
fcssionals for the reason that no such
distinction existed. The Fled of Lon
don severa years ago stated That there,
were players whom we should style
amateurs and players whom we should
style professionals: but no one dreoln-
ed Of dividing the players Of a game
or the devotees Of a port into two
classes according a they pursued It
for pleasure or for profit. The reason
u simple. 1t is to be found in the
fact that one great distinction, ar
sharper than it is today. but across
al spcrL. and, indeed. c"ery densrt-
lacn: o. activity, the distinction,
II t7sely. between those who were gen
t:cnien and those who We're not.
Nothing could alter Or qualify tais
distinction Of birth. II a gentleman
turned PROFESSIONAL a We say, he re-
NAMED n gentleman. II a man not a
gentleman played q game for love
alone he did not thereby break the
'%invidious bar Of his birth. In fact.
when a gentleman and n~ot-gentleman
met in athletic rivalry there was far
less recognition OF the leveling pow
er OF the game than there ~ now:
even the feeling that it was man to
man yildcd TO the knowledge that
II was man against gentleman"