East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-03-31
OLYMPIC GAMES WILL
HELP SETTLE BELGIAN
RECONSTRUCTION COST
Antwerp is Constructing Arena
to Hold 10000 Persons In
terest in France and Switz-
erland is Quickened.
ny r. II. SHEFFIELD

n the reconstruction of n yar-rayage
, country. Such Is the frank admission
OF Count de Ballet Latour, presiden
of the Antwerp Olympic committee
himself the keenest of sportsmen, wh,
however is under no delusions as t.
amount Of interest displayed in spor
by his countrymen, generally.
Interviewed by the United Pres
| Count de Baillet-Latour declared
THE Olympic games are going to pla,
n big part in the reconstruction o.
Belgium. inasmuch as participant
and spectators will include men from
l all parts OF the world, who will us'
the oportunity thus offered to open uI
new business prospects.
The war has shown the value oi
sport as an aid to physical develop
ment, and the more widely sport Il
recognized the more popular it will be
| come. This year Belgium is going tc
help to popularize sport. and incident.
ally she will thus help in the recon
struction of her own industry. Ir
point of fact the Antwerp Olympic
ga mes promise to make good through
out France as well.
tlontinenials Backing Games
For example, a manifesto has been
issued by the French National Sports
federation urging all young men in
all branches of sport to go into hard
training right away, so as to uphold at
Antwerp the honors already gained by
France at Athens and Stockholm. The
Swiss government is giving a subven-
tion OF $1,000 francs in aid of the
Swiss share of the work at Antwerp.
and this will be supplemented by a
national subscription organized by the
Swiss Sports federation. Fourteen
big Swiss sporting organizations are
already booked for Antwerp"
: Regarding Belgium's contribution to
the games. Count de BaHlet-Latour
declared regretfully, Belgium itself.
in so far as the man in the street is
concerned. cares little for sport. He
does not see the necessity for it. The
average Belgian cannot differentiate,
for example, between boxing and
fighting; between rugby and soccer.
between tennis anl lawn-tennis. Yet
the enthusiasm of those young folk
who do get interested in sport is sim
ply excessive"
That large influx of visitors is ex-
pected is proved by the energetic ways
in which the executive committee is
making plans for the accommodation
OF throngs of sightseers. With Ant
werp as a terminal on some of the
biggest trans ocean steamship routes.
and in view of the direct service be-
tween Antwerp and New York. Balti-
more and Philadelphia, the committee
consider American participation
most important factor. Several men,
hers of the executive committee know
the principal cities of the United
states quite well and these have stim-
ulated Belgian interest in America
Sport Interest Being Revived
Vigorous propaganda work is being
carried on here to stimulate the some
what dormant national interest In
matters sportive, but everybody re-
alizes the advantages ACQUIRING from
an international sporting pilgrimage
to Belgium. and every inducment is
being offered to attract ordinary war
zone visitors to the Olympic games
" lille the location of this years games
ia but a geographical coincidence it
happens very fortunately for coun-
t,,v which hadlv needs every means OF
for five years impover-
shment through war
Tho arena of the Antwerp stadium
SIS feet in length by So2
feet. broad. The width of the running
track Mt the grand stand is 20 feet,
and along the straight 80 feet. A lap
ON the cinder track is 1882 feet. The
length of the football pitch is S45 feet
by 1870 feet.
In all. the stadium covers II acres
and has accommodation for 10000
including 1900 seats. the
grand stand on the south is 4S7 feet
long. with over 6, 900 seats. while there
is a somewhat smaller stand on the
north side OF the ground. accommo-
dating $500 spectators. The compeu-
TORS, dressing rooms are connected
with tho track hv means of a subway,
King Albert to Assist
Tbore will be quite n number of ex-
hih;tions. professions. stageplays, and
other side-shows. many but remotely
with sport. 1t is expected
that King Albert will take the salute
at the inaugural grand march of the
and an elaborate royal
box has been prepared for the various
ROYALTIES who will witness the games
from time to time.
Belgium won the fight fer the
olympic games after vigorous eattie
with Holland year ago. Holland put
in n strong plea for the 1920 olSmpaid
on the ground that a neutral country
would be more appropriate so soon
after the great world-war, hut whiie
the worst Belgium In the political
arena. King Alherts gallant little
country won the athletic battle senu-
ment doubtless influencing the gov
erning body. and the allotment of the
Olynlniad to Antwerp was regarded as
In the nature of "consoia-
tion prize for the hardshtps OF war.
The stadium, which is now almost
is situated in. the suburb ot
I<lel, butte handy TO the heart of Ant |
werp.