Evening star., 1939-02-27
Olympic Games Plea
For National Stadium
Suggestion Of 1881 Revived
In Connection With
Auditorium Debate

In Connection With
Auditorium Debate
To the Editor Of The Star:
Perhaps in relation to the current dis
cussion of the auditorium stadium prob
lem, the following proposal, first printed
on November %, 1881, would be OF
interest:
AWhat the celebrated Greek games
were to the Hellenes of antiquity a
similar series Of festivals, held at in
tervals in the Nations Capital City,
might be to modern Americans.
Let us glance at two pictures, one of
ancient fact and one of modern fiction.
Olympia in Ellis, on the western coast
Of Greece, in the midsummer of year
In the 4th or 5th century BIC. The
air electric with movement. Thousands
Of men, hailing from every section of
the Hellenic world, tramping toward the
Olympic stadium, the manhood of
Greece focusing to one central point.
They are drawn by an unparalleled ideal.
For generations their fathers met in the
same arena. They themselves respond
to a challenge both ancient and uni
versal. Beginning in time too remote
to be reckoned, the Hellenes gathered
in athletic congress to match strength,
skill and endurance. The first fact in
776 BIC.
From towns and cities, little villages
without name, far-flung colonies, out
posts in other lands, they come. The
ambassadors OF Ellis have made the
rounds of all the Hellenic states, pro-
claiming the Olympian peace for three
months that each contestant may freely
travel to the games. For eleven months
those who will compete have been in
training. Each is a Greek by blood, free
born and fit in every way. Now come
the spectators, thousands upon thou
sands of men. No women or girls may
attend. But we may surmise that FEM
inine interest was not lacking A
mother, wife, sister or sweetheart would
be somewhere in the background from
which each competitor emerged
For five days the games continue. In
the intervals between the contests his
torians recite their writings, orators
deliver their speeches. and painters and
sculptors are busy with their work.
Merchants display their wares to GUS
toners In holiday mood. The city is a
hive OF industry. The mere feeding of
the multitude keeps hundreds toiing
But high dignity prevails. There
is no disorder The festival has a relig-
ious significance. Sacred ENJOYS are
present from afar, all joining to sacrifice
to the same gods partaking in the same
rites. The best of Greece is in attend
ance. Each man feels the call to be
his noblest self.
The prizes offered have little intrinsic
value. An olive crown, mere handful
OF leaves, Is the highest reward. But
the honor OF winning an Olympic event
is very great. Returning victors find
themselves civic heroes. AS long as they
live they are respected throughout the
Greek peninsula. Poets sing their fame.
Every fourth year the games are held.
ANY SoAiolAlutC VIC UdSlS Ol al lIle oIeek
unity there is. Widely scattered and
rlgldly independent, the communities of
Greece have little else to bind them to-
gether in the face Of threatening bar
barism. Hence the Olympic festivals
are the central fact in Grecian history.
Greek religion. law, ethics, art, litera-
ture, music. drama, all derive from or are
stimulated h,yt ha
Ellis All are expressions of Greek man.
hood, assembled in orderly competition.
Olympia is a synonym for the Greek
ideal of life
Our modern picture now. The city
OF washington. on-let US say-July d.
A long procession moves through Penn
sylvania avenue. The youth of the
American race on parade. They march
under the banners Of the several States.
Men and women, boys and girls, they
proceed to a beautiful stadium built for
their use. Thousands Of their friends
NIL the coliseum to cheer them on to
victory The President greets the as
sembly in the Nations name. With him
stand the honored chiefs of the Govern
---~--s' VAN &AAAhy VIC 4NdVy, lllc repre-
sentatives of foreign lands, the principal
executives of the great universities and
colleges, distinguished guests.
The games begin. All the ancient
and modern outdoor sports are in
cluded in the program. For five days
the festival continues. On the sixth
the President distributes the prizes.
Later the victors' names will be in
scr1oed upon the stadium walls.
The procedure throughout is demo-
cratic In character. AS the youth of
the Nation gathered in the national
service in the years of the World
War. so they meet in the Capital
stadium, without regard to class or
clan. They are. met as Americans
They manifest the traditional spirit of
fair play, the spirit of equality of op-
portunity exemplified in the Declara-
ton OF Independence and in the Con-
stltution. The winners come from every
section Of the land; they represent the
North and the South, the East and
the West. The victor in the Mara
thon run, let us suppose, from Mount
Vernon to Washington, may be a boy
from rock-ribbed New England, or n
bOV from the uyido Yro irioe NJ Aroh,.