The Cordova daily times., 1920-07-21

Press) When President Gustavus T. Kirby of the American Olympic com mittee returned from his recent off, cial visit to Antwerp, Belgium, he pre- scented an exhaustive and very inter- esting report of his visit to the scene of the coming Olympic games, to the other members of the national com- mittee Almost every line of the lengthy document is of interest to fol- lowers of athletics, as MT. Kirby has gone into detail in reference to the contests in which America will be rep- resented. The following excerpts from the report give readers a good idea of the vastness of the arrange ments which have been made for the worlds greatest athletic competition:
 "The marathon race will not be laid from Brussels to Antwerp as was orig finally contemplated for the reason that numerous railroad crossings would make such a course too dan gerous and to build stairways or in- cline ways over the railroads would be too exhausting to the runners. The course has been changed, therefore, and the runners will start in the sta dium, follow the course for half the distance, and return over the same course to the stadium, which will be circled once. The course is practically flat, there being but one hill near Malines and this is of but little con- sequence as hills are considered by us. The surface over which the run will take place has about 90 per cent of dirt or fine broken stone, being rather narrow bicycle path alone the main highway. AS it is, 10 per cent of the distance will be on Belgian blocks, and not of the best laid Bel gian blocks at that. Moreover, the bicycle path is so narrow that until the runners become strung out many of them will have to run on the main highway of Belgian blocks.
 HOUSING
 'As has been announced by the Bel gian Olympic committee, it's plans for the housing of the teams was, and is, to place them in the numerous school h in, hn 0If fu after considering the situation very carefully, concluded that the plan of the committee was by all odds the best one and has therefore, arranged for the athletic team, the swimming team, the gymnastic team, and in fact all of the teams excepting the shoot ing, rowing, polo and horse riding, to be housed in the school for boys at the Rue Oudean. This school is one of the largest in Antwerp. It is sup posedly large enough to lodge 400, but the entire building will be turned over to the American teams. The rooms are large and airy, and the building faces on the street and a large interior court yard, approximately SO by 60 feet, containing trees, walks and benches, and is a very pleasant and suitable place. ADJUSTMENTS
 '"The Belgian Olympic committee is so arranging it's program of events as to make it possible for the contest ants in one sport to see the contests in the other sports. In the afternoon the swimming events will be decided, the last in point of time each day being the water polo. In the evening in the large amphi-theater at the geological gardens in the center of town will be held the wrestling and boxing con- tests. In addition to the opportunity thus given for the members of the various teams to enjoy the sports, there will be various festivities such i as were held at Stockholm.
 "Victor Breyer, editor of the rEche des Sports, has invited the American team to take part in the athletic meet ing in Paris on the Sunday following the finish of the athletic events ip Antwerp, their expenses to Paris paid and the proceeds of the meeting going to some charitable institution. Your president has stated that no lnvl- tation could be accepted which would in any way interfere either with the events or festivities of the seventh Olympiad
 ROWING
 Date, August 27 to 29. Place On the canal running through Brussels. rooo ta rt at +hn ui11aOn 0f |