Evening star., 1935-08-25
BY ALAN GOULD,

BY ALAN GOULD,
Associated Press Sports Editor
NEW YORK, August 24-To help
get the proper perspective on the
Olympic situation, currently sur
rounded by a great deal Of agitation
in the United States because Of anti
racial or anti-religious activities in
Germany, it is essential at the outset
to realize the following facts:
/. The Olympic Games will be held
in Berlin next year, whether or not
the United States participates.
2. The games already are assured
Of spectacular success, with more
countries entered, more athletes slated
to compete and more tickets sold In
advance for all sports than ever be-
fore.
8. The International Olympic Com
mittee, composed mainly of outstand-
ing men from countries critical Of
Germany, if not actually antagonistic
to the Nazi regime, has approved
holding the games in Berlin after
making a closer study of athletic
conditions than any other organiza-
ton concerned with the international
games.
f. The games will be conducted,
not by Nazi Germany, but by the in
ternational federations controlling the
various sports on the Olympic cal
endar. Berlin furnishes the setting
and the facilities but in no way in
fluences the program or the handling
of competition.
1t is also a fact that the United
States officially has accepted the Ger
man invitation to compete. that elabo-
rate organizing plans already have
been mapped out and that the Ameri-
can Olympic Committee is definitely
going ahead with its program, even
though it is house somewhat di-
vided against itself for the time being.
In short, there is every reason to be.
lieve that this country will send its
teams to Germany unless further de-
velopments or agitation take more
serious turn in so far as the American
attitude is concerned.
A Two-Sided Question.
GERMANY, as well as every one else,
realizes that the Olympic games
without the United States would be a
competitive joke, even though Ameri-
can absence might not affect the gate
receipts. At the same time, non-par-
ticipation would be a blow to this
country's athletic prestige. Under ex-
isting or alleged conditions in Ger
many, it is debatable whether the
United States would serve the cause
Of sporting democracy more by taking
part in or withdrawing from the
games.
On the one hand, there are those
who feel strongly and honestly that
German measures affecting Jews and
Catholics are sufficiently discrimina-
tory to ,yarrant Americas withdrawal.
This country, they contend, always
has stood for fair play and equal op-
portunity, regardless Of race, color or
creed. They insist that the broad
issues at stake justify our refusal to
compete; specifically, that Germany
has violated Olympic pledges by not
giving equal opportunity to Jewish or
Catholic athletes at home.
Other Side Of Question.
OPPOSED to this viewpoint are
those who believe Germany's in
tcrnal affairs, athletic or otherwise,
should not weigh critically in Ameri-
can plans; that there should be q
clear differentiation between political
agitation and sporting facts. Con-
ceding discrimination against Jewish
and Catholic athletes, at least indi-
rectly, they regard this primarily as
the concern of Germany or the Inter-
national Olympic Committee, not the
United States. Finally and practi-
cally, the view is held that the best
service the United States can give to
world sports to send its best talent
to Germany, without prejudice, and
demonstrate athletic superiority once
more.
| tThe next in this series will discuss the
| sources and extent of agitation in the
| United States against Olympic participa-
| tion.)