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KS«*y. I. Itu ALBERT LEA TRIBUNEHistory never was one of my i the Greeks' standing offerfavorite subject in school: in I permanent host# of the Gfact, there were times when I shuddered to think of it. Yet, there is one facet of histoiy that excites me beyond imagination. That is the history of the Olympic Games.Prior to preparing this piece, T wondered if readers would be interested in facts of the, past, but as I poured over material,the events seemed to spring to life again and I could almostfeel the exhilaration felt by that first Olympic champion, Coroe-bus of Greece, as he crossed the finish line after a 200 - yard race in 776 B. C.There is history going backIn 1906, he established the first mid - Olympic competitions, to be held every four years thereafter. Although the Greeks werenot able to put on the 1910 affair, it is generally agreed the 1906 competition once again saved the Olympics.anc1lt;EPFbat!From that point, things beg expanding. With the lntroduc-1 a tion of figure skating in 1906 ice hockey in 1920, the organizers decided to stage a separ- fi ate Winter Olympics, the first oJ being held in 1924 in Chamonix, tfc France. nThe first Olympic Village, nowf Olympicfarther than that race, in J life, did not appear uin Eos Angeles when300tugemales from 37 countries were housed in one area. The women still roomed in hotels.In the 1964 event in Tu»yo,94 nations sent representatives | “t this year nearly 120 invitations were issued. This year’s ath-16medliials in 19 different sports.So far, athletes from 46 different nations have gone backlo to their countries wearing thlt; gold medal symbolic of Olympic victory. It’s possible another INcountry or two may be addedthis year. IthThe only thing which has marred the modem Olympics ii war. The Games were suspended in 1916 and again in 1M0 and 1944. Its been a lone time since the Greeks stopped warste Olympics. Now, we stop the Olympics to s t a g e fo wars. Hopefully, this trend can stibe reversed and once again wecan return to the spirit of Baron [ Rtde Coubertin, who said:“The imoortant thins in theOlympic Games is not winning but taking part. The essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.wlt;titcodeDifiethe ninth century B. C., it is rumored by the Greeks the first Olympics were established by Pelops after a stirring victory over King Oenamous of Pisa.The story relates that the Kingoffered his beautiful daughter to any suitor who could wisk her away without bein^ caught.Thirteen suitors tried, and 13 were caught, each slain by the revengeful King.Then came Pelops, who assured his getaway by bribingthe King’s charioteer to weaken an axle on the King’s chariot.The King was gaining on Pelops when the chariot collapsed, killing the King. In celebration of his victory, Pelops was said to have established the Olympic Games in the valley of Olympia.During the early Games, all wars between Greeks were voluntarily halted for the duration of the competition. Only once was the tradition of no weapons in Olympia violated, that coming in 364 B. C. when one warring Greek tribe felt any cause justified the means andswept down on the organizers ofthe year's affair, routing them and assuming control.Competitors in the early Olympics would have a hard time qualifying as amateurs under today's strict codes. Beforeeach four - year gathering at Olympia, hopeful athletes had to practice 10 full months and then report to Olympic judges who drove the men through another month of work. Those who qualified then went on to compete for an olive wreath and, later, many wordly prizes. Free homes, food for a lifetime and large sums of money were among the rewards of a; victorying streets after the winner,; writing poems about him and making his name a household word.The Olympics persistedthrough the corrupt reign of I putts ove mine holes. Phev Roman Emperor Nero (who na-|tenson was hottest on the greens|Tnturallv wontered in the 66 A. D. Games),1 =o— jj388 A. D. when P r i n c e j Bob Condon chipped in on i00Armenia wasj number 13 an a Del Harris and recorded champion, win- jack Greengo each sunk shots__J * ^ I ~ * _..... the green on number.the 291st Olympic Games, Em- is m city National League golf I peror Theodosius of Rome for- play this week. Chuck Greg-mally abolished the Games in arson eagled the 18th, while Bob394. t Condon eagled number 13.Although the Greeks tried to Trades Labor beat Queenrevive me Oiympics in Ainen* j Product* hv a sinoiA stroke 1889 ana ie/u, 11 was up iu|t0 highlight team play, while | a tiny Frenchman — Baron stables, Freeborn National, Pig-Pierre de Coubertin - to final- gly Wiggly, Leuthcld - Boelterspectacle bar * — ‘ *Tune 16. 1894(Marion Ball won the weekenders putting tournament held at Green Lea last weekend with 31 putts in 18 holes.Virginia Lindbeck finished second along with Fran Ashcraft and Sandy Narverud.Meanwhile, Mabel Miller was tying Tommie Passingham for the Class B tournament with 11uo PI 11Ai*deLiScInnStriLLLPetLiLlLiLILISTANDINGSW L, Mert's Off Sal# ..................5 1l|FrMborn Notional Bonk ..........$ 14 2 4 23 3i 3 SHtouAndaNAlbtesivinced delegates of nine nations that a revival of the Olympic Games was necessary promote youth fitness and a bet-|^««1st Notion*) Bonk ..................3The Baron wanted to stage I Sovin9# ................\the first Games of the modern jTrades oncf Labor ..................3era in Paris in 1900 in conjunc-j Moiody Bor ........................2 4 C.tion with the Paris International strootor* ..!!!!!!!!!!*.!!!!!!!!!!! 1 5*t h e Quoon Products ......................1 SINDIVIDUAL HONORS(M ILOWLOW NET -LOW GROSSLOW GROSS LOW NET -LOW GROSS LOW NET —Exposition, but, when Greeks heard about the revival, they asked to have the first Games in Athens in 1896 in deference to past competition and . history. As it turned out, the| L0W NET move to Athens may have saved the entire revival.The Greeks staged such a successful exhibition in terms of organization and spectator - ap- Nelson, 33.peal, the modem Olympics were able to survive two haphazard stagings in Paris in 1900 and St.Louis in 1904. In both cities, the Olympics were given a backseat to other international events — the Paris Exposition and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis.In an effort to get the event back on its feet again, Baron deCoubertin partially reconsideredLOW GROSS LOW NET -— Worron Johnson 37 Loo Gorder, 34.($-4)— Horris Wobor. 31. -31.Everett Paulson, 33.174)— Chuck Groflorson, 34.O. A. Boelter, 31.(Ml)— Leonard Nelson, 41.Rocky Ganrude, 33. Curt I(IMS) * No— Roger Jenson, 43.StonekKliLoEllWlEllFrlt;Alt Kass rle 5 RoHalverson’s beat Roy’s Liq-MilWoWiiClc
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Albert Lea Sunday Tribune
Albert Lea, Minnesota, US
Sun, Sep 01, 1968
Page 14
Full Page
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WV, USA 06 Nov 2019
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