, 1923-03-20

, ward strides which athletics have
taken in tho past decade in the orient
especially in China, Japan and the
Philippines. our island possessions.
These three nations, banded together
In the Far Eastern Athletic associa-
ton, the major oriental sport govern
ing body, have taken the initiative In
putting rccreationnl activities on its
present high plane.
AS the result OF progress VIII oh has
been transformations but none the less
effective. the rest of the athletic world
is beginning to focus its attention on
this Far Eastern development. Right
now particular interest Is being mani
tested 1 the 1928 Far Eastern games,
n biennial affair modelled along Olym.
pic lines. The meet this year Is the
sixth since 1918 and will b. held in
Osakn. Japan. beginning May 81. II
promises to witness a callber Of per
formance comparing favorably with
the best in this country and Europe.
and in the Far East It is looked upon
as a preliminary step toward zeal rep.
resentation from that part of the
world IN tho Paris Olympics of 1924.
Conditions peculiar TO the orient un-
doubtedly will preclude the possibility
OF Far Eastern peoples competing gen.
orally on an wen footing with their
Caucasian rivals. but high class talent
n many branches OF activity Is being
produced us n result of systematic
training and encouragement. AS an
! example, the list OF track and field
stars. according to latest reports. in.
cludes several 1O-second sprinters,
while unusual proficiency Is being de.
veloped in such sports as swimming.
tennis and boxing.
Proof of the invasion OF western
standards also is shown in the pro.
gram for the Far Eastern meet. which
will include competition in ~volleyball.
basketball, rugby football and base.
ball.
Women. too. are following the lead.
ership of their American and Euro
nean sisters In taking n more active
part In athletics. Tennis and swim.
ming events for feminine participants
form a part of the international pro
gram.
American leadership and principles
have been largely responsible for the
athletic awakening in the Far East.
Interest first was stimulated in the
Philippines. where natives proved
Eager and apt pupils. n hns spread
throughout the orient.
One of the outstanding figures In
his development was Elwood S.
Brown Of New York. now executive
officer of the newly launched Ma
rlonal Amateur Athletic Federation.
hut who for years stimulated athletic
tctlvity in the Far East as n Y. NJ.
=. a. worker. with others he was In
strumental in staging the first Far
Eastern games In 1918. at Manila, and
brinRing China and later japan into
he afr Eastern Athletic association
siam md Malaga also were induced
o become members of this assoc'n'
''on. but tho outbreak OF the world
war forced ooth to withdraw from &C
tive participation.
reports | have received from the
Far East indicate that this years
games WI be the most successful
ever held" Mr.. Brown declared in
discussing the athletic situation in
the orient. China Japan and the
Philippines Nh promise to have
strong teams IN tine field. Keen riv'
airy exists among these nations am
they nre anxious to develop tnlen'
which will be worth sending to the
OlympIcs at Paris.
The city of Osaka Is building Q
big concrete stadium for the event:
| and expects to handle average daily
crowds Of 10000"