The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-09-22
Cincinnati where they have agreed
to play on a postpbnsmaht,
MEET TO Be
BEST EVER
PREPARATIONS FOR OLYMPIC
GAMES ASSUMING ENORMOUS
PROPORTIONS.
ALTHOUGH THREE YEARS AWAY
PRESENT INTEREST IS UN.
PRECEDENTED.
PRECEDENTED.

three years will elapse before the
sixth revival of the Olympic games to
he held at Berlin during the summer
of 1916, the meet has already assum-
cd proportions far surprising any
previous struggle for worlds ANA
teur track and field championships.
The games, their prcliminarics and
preparations arc topics OF national
and international comment and dis
cussion throughout the old and new
world. In the midst Of all these
preparations the United States ath-
letic authorities continue to lead the
way. American prospects for the
1916 Olympic games are Brighter
than at any time since tue revival OF
this athletic classic, owing TO the
work of the new international Ath-
lclic Federation" just organized at
Berlin by delegates from sixteen
leading athletic countries OF the
world.
As a controlling international au-
thority for amateur track and field
sports its suggestions to the Olympic
Games committee will carry great
weight. The proposed |. A. i. stand
ard program Of track and field events
Is made up almost entirely of events
on the programs OF American college
and athletic club events and the rules
are largely those to which the Amer
ican athletes arc accustomed. The
victory Of the American views at the
congress German sport critics ascrlbe
to the fact that the events proposed
by the United States arc practiccd
everywhere and are devoid of freak
ishness: the superiority Of the results
produccd under the American rules
and in no small measure to the abil-
ity of the American delegates and the
prestige of American athletes.
If was the conccnsns OF opinion
among the delegates that the Amcri'
can representatives Of TIC Amateur
Athletic union were by far the best
ycrsed in tho theory and technique
Of athletics. When they advocated
changes in the rules they advanced
excellent reasons in support OF their
contention and won many victories
and supporters to their ideas Some
Of the rules advocated ut the susgcs-
ton Of the United States delegates
were: Toc-board. circles for the shot
mt; penalties for false starts, ana
a rule to prevent the drawing OF sew
cral entrants all representing one
country in preliminary heats OF races
On a few points American ideas were
rejected, as, for instance in adopting
Q is pound shot made of iron IN,
stead of the smaller American leao
shot. and in providing for dug-o"t
takc-orf for the broadSjump, against
the United States argument that the
lake-off joist sunk flush with the
ground was far safer,
While the international Athletic
federation was smoothing out wink
les in the program to be oHereu us d
model for the Berlin games, tht
OLYMPIC controversy that has he'e
tho attention of English athletic lol-
lowers since the Stockholm meet o. u
year ago. attained fresh prominence
The proposal to raise fund Oh SOW
600 rather staggered the average SUP
lect of George V. Although thcr'
we're few carly subscribers 10 Ill"
rund there were hundreds OF IN
entries as to what was to be done
with this enormous sum Of money.
The Duke of Westminster in a pu"
lie letter calls attention to the tohS
iii Of sporting trophies and cham
pionships which England lost dur
Ing the past fifteen years. lie wrote
polo, America; racquets, AmeF.'
"a; yachting. America; lawn tennis
yinglcs), New Zealand; lawn tennis
Davis cup), America; court tennis
,mcrica clay Gouid) ;'boximg, Amer
'ca France; billiards (IGnglislD' Aus
ralia: swimming, Amcrica-Austra
ia; rugby. football, South Aforica
Slow Zealand; lacrosse, Canada; c"
LINK. I'rancc-Gcrnlany, trottlni
lo!%r, America; running hcrSe
,mcrira; horse jumping France
2ussla: fencing, France; shooting
tllinc's prizc), Canada; skating
sweden; track and field ntI'Ic'lcs
Nmcrica.
"Ibis is Il tale Of national disaster
+ ENGLAND to do nothing to rccoVe
her ancient supremacy us the m"'Il
r Of Yport?. Tho king Is both a MAJ
business and sportsman. a
rripcc OF Wales on memorable oc'
~ ion, his mnmentVls Wake up Eng
and electrified al empire anu ga"
Immense stimulus to commerce
nd Industry. As our sovereign he
nav bids Britain to wake up IN
,ort and hopes that every effort wih
W n,atly to ensure that the United
..,.rdcm Is represented by Its best
ahlotcs ct the Olympic games In Der,
IN IN 1915. We are in honor boun"
n 20 forward and do our lever pest
70 r T the lost prestige of great
PORTING nation. But victory means
.ts;,,ort organization and training,