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iOLYMPIC LESSONS.£30.000 WAN TEDA meeting called by the Athletics AdvisoryClub, at which Lord Desborough presided, washeld at the Manchester Hotel last night todiscuss the causes of England’s failures atthe Olymiiic Games at Stockholm, and, aboveall, to find out if jiossible how we may dobetter at the next Olympic Games in 1916 atBerlin. The Rev. R. S. de Courcy Laffan, hon.secretary of the British Olympic Council, sat next to the chairman, and many well-knownofheials in the athletic world were present.Some very interesting speeches were made,but the speakers showed that on some pointsthere are very wide differences of opinion asto why the British competitors made sucha moderate show. On the subject of theadvisability of importing a head trainer from America, for instance, there was a definite contradiction of opinion, some holding that such a trainer with American methods was absolutely necessary, and others saying that so far as training gees the English methods of special training could do all that is neces- j sary, provided the men would submit to them. IThe result of the meeting was embodied in • a resolution which was carried, to the effect j that it is necessary that money should be col- j lected for the purpose of discovering and de- { velcping athletic talent, and that a committee should be elected from the meeting to approach the various athletic bodies with a view to taking joint action in raising an Olympic fund. After considerable discussion a number of gentlemen were elected from the meeting.AN ALL-EMPIRE TEAM.Many were the proposals put forward to make the British team four years hence more worthy of a great sporting nation, and some very good things were said. Lord Desborough, who favoured the formation of an all-Empire team, pointed out humorously that—just as the United States has now—we should then have all colours and kinds to pick from. Wemight, for instance, pick out a promising Zuluand for the next four years make him train in nothing else except throwing the javelin, i America, after all, he pointed cut, had chosen a coloured competitor from the Hawaiian Islands who had won one of the most important swimming races. \Another observer from Stockholm, referring to the much-lauded idea of the Americans allstaying on a specially chartered liner at Stockholm, said there was no rea.-on for us to be i cast down because we could not hope, as the Americans had done, to. raise £30,000 for a similar purpose. The Americans themselves regarded the liner as a mistake, and said they would not employ such a method again.iIWHAT IS NEEDED.Il1*111ttAmongst the proposals put forward as being desirable or essential to the success of British competitors at Berlin in 1016 were:The formation of a British Empire team.A rich philanthropist who would take upthe Olympic Gaines as a hobby.A demand, backed bv strong pressure ,and agitation, that the Government should 1 ;give a substantial grant towards the expenses of the British Olympic team.A head trainer (imported or otherwise) at a big salary, with salaried assistants under him, each responsible lor a certain district.The erection of gymnasia, with covered run- (ning tracks, where everybody could train and i practise, as in America. j *The better cultivation of “ raw material ” j J and the warmer encouragement of promising ; ^ athletes of no matter what class.- j -The cultivation of an ‘‘Olympic spirit j amongst the competitors themselves.More inter-club athletic meetings.The arousinsr of a keener interest amonsrst r.e the British public.fa£30,000 REQUIRED..isVssrtvAs to how much money will be necessary toplace British athletes in a position of supremacy at Berlin, opinions varied again. Lord Desborough said that £.5000 a year for the next lJ three years, with £10,000 for*the fourth yearwould be needed. Mr. do Courcy Laffan said he thought £30,000 at least, and for athletics , alone, would be necessary, and a later speaker gave it as his opinion that thi^ amount would ; not be nearly enough. j jA letter was read from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle urging the necessity for organised and combined effort, and stating that he intendedshortly to. appeal for £2o,000 in order that Britainmight be adequately represented.J.ord Desborough said lie went to Stockholm under no illusions, and without imagining that our athletes would suddenly beat world’s records. But if we were going in for the Olympic Games we must practise Olympic events. We had not done so badly in the track events at Stockholm, and even in thepalmiest days of English running he did not I ti think we could have done much better against a marvel like Kolehmainen. Indeed, the Finn did so well that he would, not be surprised tosee him running for the United States at.-- If we were to compete at Berlin the Games must be taken seriously. Other nations look them seriously. The Swedes had five professional trainers, and paid one of them a thousand a year. If we were going to senda team to Berlin public interest and support must be roused. As to the suggestion of an Empire team the Canadian and Australian representatives at the Empire sports last year agreed that it would be an excellent idea.CictlP:tlbe:slt;SbirtWE HAVE THE ATHLETES.tciilt;dfi*1Lfoaili:tntiTia iwlt;insaMr. de Courcy Laffan said it was “up to us ” to send to Berlin a team which, would regain us our place in the athletic world. We still had the athletes in this country who could do it. The Swedish trainer had told ! us him that had he had the British athletes ! w under his hands for three months the Americans would not have stood a chance. We had the material in this country, lie said, which, m in the words of the Americans, would “ lick creation.” No one who saw the tremendous effect produced by the poor performances of the British team at Stockholm would want j to see such a thing repeated. In London we had had the Olympic rules fixed to our own liking, and after that we were in honour bound to send a representative team to Stock-liojm. If we are to retire from the Olympic { relt; Games, as some people suggest, let it cnly be j after we have taken first place at Berlin.Mr. J. G. Merrick (Canada) Said that if English athletes were trained as well as our best rowing, cricket, and football teams, we should not want any help from America. He would like to see all the athletes of the Empire combined in one team, but he was afraid we should find great opposition to such a schemeon the Continent, especially from the smaller countries. But lie was convinced that all those representing the Empire should meet in London for a week or a fortnight and train together before proceeding to Beriin.There were many other telling speeches, but the burden of the majority of them was tl0 that we need more money and more organisa-tion, and that immediate steps must be taken gato get both. ar.tomlt;andeViPrfrcthCccei
Newspaper Details
London Standard
London, Middlesex, GB
Fri, Aug 02, 1912
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Pikes P.
CO, USA 20 Dec 2019
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