New-York tribune., 1920-08-15
1900 Athletes
OF y Nations
I'm Big Parade
Royalty Views Colorful Pro-
cession-Track and Field
Competitions Start To-day
To-day's Program,
Javelin throw-finals.
100-meters dash--trials.
400-meters hurdles-trials.
SoO-meterS run-trials.
By Arthur S. Draper
Special Gable to The Tribune

of the Illinois A G.. worlds champion
in the hop, step and jump, will COM
-7ete for America at the Stadium here,
st was announced to-day by the Amer
Ram Olympic Committee Acting upon
te advice of his fellow athletes, the
tAmous jumper decided to apologize to
t.e committee, which yesterday dis
MISSED him from the team for insubor-
aination.
The committee reconsidered, and
Ahearn was reinstated, much to the
satisfaction Of the other members OF
the team. which took up the fight in
behalf Of the Illinois man.
Army and navy authorities are CO.
operating with the committee to i'm
prove the meals and make the quarters
comfortable, with the result that the
tension is broken and the morale of
the team is decidedly improved, fol-
lowing compromise wherein both the
athletes and the committee admitted
mistakes had been made.
Everything is now in readiness for
the greatest track meet in the annals
Of sport. The seventh Olympiad will
be the greatest because the standard
OF competition has improved tremen-
dously since the last international clas-
SIC, especially throughout Europe, and
this despite the hardships of war
King and Queen Present
Athletes to the number of 800 from
twenty-seven countries paraded before
King Albert and Queen Elizabeth OF
Belgium this afternoon in the formal
opening OF the stadium. Though the
seventh O.ympiad will be held in an
arena smaller than the Polo Grounds,
not more than half of the seats were
Nled when the ceremonies began.
10 Americans acquainted with the
Yale bowl and Harvard stadium, the
Antwerp arena seems pathetically tiny,
but what is lacking in size is made up
IN beauty. Flags, fanfares, buges and
cannon, IN fact all the trappings, which
a few years back were associated with
warfare before it became matter Of
mud, gas and machinery, were en-
ployed in to-day's royal opening, and
the soldier King, the idol Of his people
kind. AT his right sat Queen Eliza
beth and to his left was Cardinal
Nercier, while around him were many
notable soldiers and statesmen.
1t was the best League of Nations
meeting since the war, and though to-
morrow the athletes will be lighting
desperately for the honor of their
countries, they will part friends.
The huge American squad, with Pot
Stripes at their head, created fine
impression, but most of the cheers
We're won by the French and Swedes,
the former because they are bound by
alliance with the Belgians, and the
latter because their women competi-
tors are such wonderful type of
athletes.
Only One New Zealander
One New Zealander represented his
country, but Egypt had nearly q score.
Portugal had four fencers and Monaco
al least Il dozen gymnasts. The Czechs
had a large squad, but there were no
Esthonian banner tiuttcred. but no
Poles marched before the King, and
while Luxembourg had d dozen COM
petltors no Germans saluted his maj
esty. The Austrians, Russians and
Turks must await the Olympiad Of 1924.
As the King watched the athletes
troop past he must have thought of the
contrast to two years ago, when the
Germans had begun the retreat across
low him were tasting the first fruits
OF the great victory, sweeter perhaps
than those they were about to win. He
had every reason to be filled with pride
at the appearance Of his subj jects, their
enterprise and skill in building the sta
dium, their enthusiasm and speed in
decorating the city.
Practically all of the Americans are
IN perfect condition, although a few are
suffering from colds due to the change
OF climate. Howard Cam, of the New
York A. c., is one Of the victims, but he
expects to be ready when his event is
run off.
The Navy crew is training in the
canal and rowing In grand style. l
understand the eight bettered the time
which it made at Worcester. All the
they seem due TO win the Olympic title
handily.
Americans in Good Shape
The swimmers, notably Norman Ross,
arc in fine condition, while the wrest-
lers and boxers are at top form. The
coaches declare the Americans are in
better shape than any previous team
sent abroad, Lawson Robertson and
Matt Halpin being especially enthusi-
astic
All the tea~s are now in Antwerp,
"hlch is the most cosmopolitan city
IN the world to-day, Japanese, Czechs,
Swedes, Moroccans, Egyptians, Britons,
French, Norwegians, black, red, white
and yellow races being represented.
The Scandinavians and Swedes, espe-
clally the latter, were accompanied by
large delegations of fans, but the
american cheering section will be sec
ond only to Belgium, for hundreds of
army and navy men will swell the
crowd of civilians going to the stadium.
The Americans drew we'll for places
In the sprint events. Murchison will
meet with little opposition in his heat
Paddock will meet Frenchman, a
Spaniard, Japanese and an English
wan, the last named being F. V. W.
Edwards, considered the best man at
100 meters in Great Britain. Jackson
Scholz' is easily the best man in his
neat, and the Americans expect to quail
lfy three men for the final
Great Race at 500 Meters
With Philips, Of Canada; Rudd, of
South Africa; Hill, of England, and
Eby, OF America, the 500 meters run
should be great race. In the third
heat Don Scott, of Missouri, and Bolin
the champion of Sweden, will meet,
while in the fourth heat A. B. Sprott, of
the Los Angeles A. c., will oppose
Lundgren, also of Sweden
In the trials of the 400-meter hurdles
AuQust DaSch of NauarL will ,,ao+