Evening star., 1932-08-24

Public appreciation Of the contribu-
t!cn Of the Olympic games to better un-
derstanding among nations is expressed
as the most successful Of these quad
rennial events is concluded. Attention
also is directed to the belief that con-
ditioas under which the competitions
were held aided in the extension of the
spirit of amateur sport. American sue
cess is interpreted as evidence OF a
proper national attention to physical
development.
When 1000 athletes, representing
every sort of nation, carry on their
grueling contests in craftsmanship and
amity, and plan the next meeting in
Berlin four years hence" IN the opinion
Of the Baltimore Sun, lit seems reason
able to conclude that this is the way the
human race could get along with itself
all the time, If its energies and en-
thusiaSms were enlisted by something
as compelling as dash down the Gin
der track or pitch of the javelin." OBJ
serving that "the contesting athletes
from the various nations all seemed to
get the other fellows point of view, and
the result was peace and harmony" the
Jersey City Journal concludes: That's
the great value Of the Olympics and in
ternational sporting events in general.
They cause nations to get acquainted
with each other"
THE rules of the athletic field" re-
marks the Pasadena Star-News, ARE
sound and wholesome for everyday life
in business and in all human rela-
tions. Honesty, honor, clean living, re-
spect for the rights and immunities OF
others, good sportsmanship, in victory
or in defeat; good fellowship, thought
full consideration for others-in a word,
observation of the Golden Rule" That
paper believes success was due in part
to "the ideal climate of this area and
the charming hospitality of its people"
and records as to the events: THE
United States, despite the pessimistic
talk sometimes heard that American
youth is decadent, has achieved a mag
nificent triumph. 1t is very evident,
from the records made, that this ccan-
try has caught its athletic stride"
Xxx
The Rochester Times Union points
out that "the showing made by little
Finland in the track and field events,
and by Japan in the swimming contests
remind us that in the athletic realm, as
others, We have no monopoly Of merit"
That paper attests that best Of all was
the fine spirit which dominated the
games, stimulating international good
feeling and recalling the fact that the
period of the ancient Olympic games
was the one time when the Greek
states laid aside their often bitter po-
litical rivalries." The Springfield CMass)
Republican emphasizes the fact that, lin
view of the long history of opposition in
California and other Pacific Coast
States to Japanese immigration, and Of
many acute md awkward episodes, it is
doubly significant that the japanese
athletes actually seemed the chief favor
ties with the crowd"
Noting the absence of Greece from
the lists this year, the Omaha World
Herald voices some sentimental regret, t"
for Greece, where the games in the
spirit of true sportsmanshlp were orig1-
mated. should be sharing some of the
honors today" The World Herald con-
tinues: IF these games can restore to
athletic competition some of that an
cient Greek spirit-the spirit Of the
amateur-they will have done much
for us. The thing that emerges
from the competitions is no: the hard
cash value of muscles, but the beauty
of well-trained body and the value of
health. This was the Grecian ideal, and
in this victory Greece emerges in
triumph"
Recalling the restoration of the
Olympic games in 1895, ON a world
wide scals, the Louisville Courier-Jour-
nal is impressed by the fact that the
aim of the modern founder was not
the promotion of sports or the fostering
Of athletics fo- themselves, but the
spread of good sportsmanShip as the
ree,Ilt of this friendly international
COMPETITIONS The Courier Journal con-