Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-16
u. ). and SoViiets
Tentatively Plan
For Track Series
=. continued From PAGE C-I

OAO Va bAACAA oAACAl OAl a AlkdIlStU-
man basis, sent United States
officials an invitation for al in
formal talk on the dual meet
series this morning. The Amer
leans accepted. strolling to Rus
sian headquarters two blocks
away in the Olympic village.
The United States officials
headed by Dan Ferris. executive
secretary Of the Amateur Ath-
letic Union, were ushered to an
upstairs room for the meeting
The discussion, which grew
warmer with each toast, lasted
@ half hour.
: Afterward. Ferris said, I'VE are
Viewing the idea favorably. ]
think there is a good chance of
working it out"
Constantine Kupi, Ferris So
Wet counterpart, said, I'VE are
most anxious to arrange this
series OF meets which we think
would be a great thing for sports
men OF both countries"
I g Coach Kelly: Jesse Mortensen.
assistant coach; Laurence Hous-
ton, manager. and Trainer Ralph
higgins accompanied Ferris to
the meeting.
Kelly Passes Up Vodka
After accepting the Sovietsi
informal invitation this morning
the Americans strolled to Rus
sian quarters and were ushered
to the second floor room, where
the most striking piece of furni-
lure was a table loaded with
vodka bottles.
Inc Two groups began discus
sions by exchanging pins-the
Americans giving away'their red
white and blue Olympic shield
IN exchange for a giant pin with
a red Russian flag showing q
manner and sickle In one
corner.
Ferris received a special pin,
II was inscribed: From Russian
sportsmen on the occasion of the
10th Olympiad."
Kelly was the only dissenter
when the vodka started to flow
explaining he could not drink
strong liquor because of a heart
condition.
But vodka is good for the
heart" said Soviet Coach Gabriel
korobkov, laughing.
The Russian official sent an
aide out for some American soda
pop, however, for Kelly.
The other Americans, how
ever. stood toe-to-toe with the
Russians in ''bottoms-up" toasts
Sees End to Obstacles
Ferris said one Of the problems
which have prevented such Rus
sian-American meetings in the
past Is now being eliminated with
the waiver Of United States fin
gerprinting regulations for aliens
In the two weeks since their
arrival in Melbourne the Rus
sans have been amazingly
friendly. Members of the team
nave wandered about the village
nngly and In small groups. chat
ung with other athletes.
Ira Davis. American hop-step-
end-Jump competitor, said yes
erday. Il was amazed at the
eagerness Of Russians to talk Ia
US. They want to know all about
our methods and told me about
the style Of Shcherbakov. Rus
aa's hop-step-and-jump star"
Soviet Coach Halls U. S. Team
Korobkov, the Soviet Unions
Top coach. said yesterday the
United States track and field
team is the greatest ever assem-
bled by any country any time
and Is much stronger than the
1852 team which dominated the
Helsinki games"
THE Americans have a fine
body-equipment and their tech.
nique--ah, It Is perfect" Korob.
kov said. They are gentlemen
also. talk with one Of them anc
In two minutes he makes me fee
we are friends for all our lives
They are the best athletes en-.
tered in the Olympics."
Avery Brundage. the American
who is president Of the Interna.
tional Olympic Committee. ar.
rived in Sydney this morning er
route here and disclosed the IOC
had interviewed through the Swis,
government 70 bring Hungarys
team out Of the rebellion-tcrr
country.
This Is the typical interna.
tional Spirit OF the games, .
Brundage said. "and il augur,
wen for the greatest success oi
the games"