Evening star., 1960-02-02
OLYMPIC OUTLOOK
By RALPH c. CRAIG

In the last Olympic Games
Russia startled the world into
full awareness of the amazing
results of her vast sports pro-
gram. After an overwhelming
victory in the winter games the
first time she entered. Russia
also won in the unofficial point
score in the regular Olympics
at Melbourne.
How important is that to this
country? We have taken our
sports for granted for so long
that most people would answer,
"a matter of little Importance.
But is it? l have previously
pointed out the rapid growth in
size and interest in the Olympic
Games. About 80 nations will
compete at Rome this summer
More people in more small ma
tions throughout the world Will
be watching the Olympic re-
suits, more than any other one
event that will happen for some
time.
If RuSSia'S supremacy in sput-
nikS and in training engineers
Is also carried over permanently
into athletics, it is bound to
have some influence on the
smaller nations which both
communism and the free worlG
are trying to WOO.
1t is too bad that this is so,
but the factors which are an
influence in a cold war reach
into many fields of our lives.
y
What are the elements in the
sports program on which Rus
sia is spending large sums of
money? What are the objec-
tiveS? What are the valid crit
icisms of this program?
The elements in Russia S
well-planned sports program
are: Cd the provision of am
pie athletic facilities at all
levels, right down to the
younger ages; % enough
competitive events, again at
all levels and leading up
ward in a pyramidal pattern;
80 coaching know-how and
coaching staff; "a a stimula-
ton of conscientious training
and an intense desire to win;
(5) and rewards for success.
Is there anything wrong
with such a program? Isn't
this pretty basic to success in
any field?
There are, however, two
principal criticisms leveled |
against their program. 1t is
claimed that Russia is spend
ing large sums of money and
effort on her sports program
largely for political reasons in
the cold war.
1t is also claimed that Rus
sian athletes are in effect pro-
fessionals who do little else
but train and compete and
who receive handsome finan-
cial rewards for their athletic
efforts.
Let's examine these two
points. When, in 1855, I first
corresponded with Gabriel
Korobkof, Russia's head track
coach, I was very skeptical
when he claimed: I'VE believe
the main aims of training to
be physical education of the
people and the improvement
of their health" However, con-
tinuing reports from American
observers touriAg Russia con-
firm the fact that a tremen-
dous amount of sports facili-
ties-and coaching-are being
provided for youngsters just
entering the athletic world.
This concrete evidence over
the last five years bears out
Korobkof's claim that their
sports program is doing a lot
for the physical fitness of all
Russian youth.
1t is harder to obtain con-
crete evidence about the other
criticism. Top Russian athletes
undoubtedly are rewarded with
privileges and governmental
positions.
But are they alone in such
practices? A Pennsylvania coal
miners son who can play foot
ball can get his ocllege educa-
ton for free. There are plenty
Of cases reported where under
the-table payments give him
more. Twenty years later he is
often a good engineer. sports
broadcaster, or once in a while
physician.
Foreign publications ask the
question: What is the differ
ence between a state-sponsored
system and a school-sponsored
syStem?" When we look at the