The Washington times., 1932-07-29
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29.-The Finnish press and Finn
ish athletic organizations. lrate
over the decision Of the 1nterna-
tional Amateur Athletic Fedora
ton to bar Paavo Nurmi, ace OF
Finland's Olympic team. from
this years games at Los Angeles,
today launched campaign to
have the entire Finnish team quit
the Olympics.
| The press, almost as a whole,
demanded that all the Finnish
athletes Immediately pack up and
return home.
BY TED SHIFTS
LOS ANGELES, July 29-Paavo
Nurmi of Finland. the greatest
distance runner the world has
ever known, will not run in the
games of the Tenth Olymplad
here next week.
Finnish athletic authorities, en-
bittered by this decision OF the
international Amateur Athletic
Federation, met in secret session
today to consider withdrawing
their team from the games. Pos.
sibility of this action seemed
slight, however.
The decision to bar the incom'
parable phantom" of the clnders
did not go into the question. OF
whether he was a professional or
an amateur, but merely rejected
his entry in the games.
"The 'Nurmi case has been
definitely settled" said J. s.
EdstrOm, of Sweden, president
of the /. A. A. F., In making
his announcement.
"The question will not come
before the congress of the fed
Grafton, which meets today"
The statement which meant
that Nurmi, here with the Fin
nish team, would not be given
an opportunity to bring his atf'
letic career to a sensational cli'
max by competing in, and PROB
ably winning, the marathon here'
read as follows:
"The commission appointed
by the international Amateur
Athletic Federation, pursuant
to its rules, to manage the
track and field events Of the
tenth OIympiad. having care
fully reviewed the evidence be-
fore it, and having heard the
representatives of Finland, mas
unanimously rejected the en-
try of PaavO Nurmi. under the
authority given it in the sev-
enth paragraph of Rule OF It's
General rules. for Olympic
events"
New and sensational evidence
against Nurmi was laid before
the council, it was learned.
81 went into this meeting
with an open mind" said Avery
Brundage, president of the
American Athletic Union ana
the United States Representative
on the council.
However, the evidence that
was brought to our attention
was such as to convince me OF
the entire justice Of our ac'
ton"
Expense accounts" turned in
bv Nurmi during a recent barn,
storming jaunt in Germany leo
to his disbarment from the games,
it was said. Nurmi is already
under suspension by the I. A. A.
F., but the decision to reject ms
entry in the games was quite
apart from this.
Two Finnish representatives
were closeted with the federation
before it made its decision. They
departed from the star chamber
session red-faced and angry.
"We have the authority to
withdraw the Finnish team"
they said, but indicated that
while this might be given con
sideratiOn 1t was not an i'm
mediate possibility.
Nurmi, winner of many
Olympic championships during
the past II years at Antwerp,
Paris, and Amsterdam, had pointed
for the marathon run in the Los
Angeles games.
Training Intensively
He has been living at the
Olympic village for the past 10
days. and training intensively
despite the dark clouds hanging
over his head.
THE question of whether Miss
Stella Walsh is or Is not eligible
was not brought to our atten-
tiOn," said EdStrOm. This would
indicate that the fleet Polish
girl will be allowed to run with
out any strings attached to her.
With few exceptions, the 1,7OO
athletes entered in the games were
in fine shape today and "rarin' to
CO." Remarkably few injuries
have been recorded in preliminary
training. but among them was a
diSlocated shoulder suffered by
Capt. C. Y. Argo, of the American
equestrian team, which will keep
him on the Sidelines.
A sensation was caused in Olym-
pic Village when word spread that
Leo Sexton. American shotputter
and former Georgetown University
athlete, had thrown the shot 53
feet 10 inches, more than one foot
heVOnd the worlds record.