ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1533, 31 August 1912, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

[BY "Mekcubt."]

THE EMPIRE DREAM AGAIN. Mr. Coombes Dreams Harder and Harder. In the present issue of tho "Refereo" Mr. If. Coombes gives details of his Olympic Empire Team scheme. Some comment on this subject by "Mercury" appeared on Wednesday, and tho further elaboration in tho "Referee" shows no causa for any change in the writer's views as then expressed. Briefly put, Mr. Coombes's idea is that the selection of Olympic representatives ■shall bo conducted as hitherto, and that, at some fixed date prior to tho big meeting, tho oversea athletes shall meet in London, and there join forccs with llio elect of Great Britain, and with tho Homo Country representatives complete their training preparations as one team. Then comes his big point, which is that, when this preparation is finished, tests shall be held m all branches of sport concerned, and the final team to do battle for tho Empire is to bo chosen from the showing at theso tests. How It Would Work in Rowing. Taking rowing as an example of the working of his proposition, Mr. Coombes writes At the termination of,the trials (actually Empire championships), the Empire Council would meet and select their team and appoint a commander-in-chief, sectional leaders, ctc., or tho council could control the affairs of the expedition—probably would bo do, resting content with tho appointment of a generalissimo. Such is injr scheme of an Empire team. It will thus at once bo seen that all tho objections (raised by row- , ing men) are swept away, because thero would bo no attempt to blend English, Canadian, and Australian rowing styles, the crows remaining just as they did this year. And had the scheme been in force this year, it would have meant that the best of the English crows (Leander), and tho Canadian and Australian crews would have rowed a series nf heats, each meeting tho others, in u series of special trials at Henley, and as a consequence (on tho form shown) tho two crews allowed to each nation would, in the case of the British Empire, have been thoso of Australia and the United Kingdom, and the Canadians would not have seen .Stockholm at all—except as spectators. Tho Empire Council referred to would consist of thoso in charge of tho various teams from the Greater Britain overseas, acting in conjunction with, tho United i Kingdom control. On this council, as Mr. Coombes points ' out, thero would of necessity bo a preponderance in favour of the United Kingdom, and, in consideration of finance, excess of representation, etc., quite rightly so, but—as tho writer indicated in his previous remarks on tho subject-it is exactly in this respect that tho obstacle to tho carrying through of the Empire schomo lies. The Dream and the Reality. "Mercury" docs not wish' to belabour the distasteful subject of English mismanagement in athletics—and particularly Olympic athletic affairs—but, unfortunately, hero is good reason for believing that thero is great cause for complaint in this respect, and -until this cause i 3 removed it is only reasonablo to suppose that athletic authorities in the countries that would help to build up an Empire team will look askance at any system that is likely to entangle their representatives .in tho English slough. Tho Weird England Round Which the Dream Centres. While on this unpleasant topic to make his point stronger, "Mercury" appends some remarks that aro apropos from the ppn :, of "Strephon," of the "Athletic News," an accepted English authority on athletic'matters:— Poor old England! What a position! I sincerely hope the athletic authori-' ties of tho United Kingdom aro proud of it. I suppose all tho old platitudes regarding high ethics and status and "sport-for-thc-lovc-of-the-thing" will, ■ • be trotted out. Our legislators will 'doubtless thank their stars they are not as other, nations—forgetting that two constructions can be placed upon such a statement—and declare that tho men did well enough. In the last sentiment I will join with tliim. Tho men did jolly wellunder the circumstances. They wore badly prepared and badly looked after; tho arrangements for their track welfare at Stockholm were «. postive disgraoe, and I dnre any man to state t.ho contrary. Individuals were not studied; teams were not considered. Even tho method of carrying the "office" in a relay race was wrong. Rubbers were ueedeil, and the athletic associations of (he United Kingdom positively wnstod money in sending an unprepared team to Stockholm. As I have written for venrs, wo had not. as things were tending, a chance against the other nations. In athletics we have dropped from the second to the fourth position, and I dare warrant we shall drop further yet unless the authorities como to their senses and start oil a process of reformation Mucl caii be done before • 191 G. If we are to go on the old lines it would be better to let things drift rather than let the country bo made tho laughing stock of the nations. "Strephon" was at the Games, and for an informative, comprehensive, and most interesting review of tho great doings at Stockholm, "Mercury" can confidently commend to his readers his articles in the issues of the "Athletic Xcwa" of July 15 and 22. The Moral of tho Marathon. The English expert writo3 feelingly of tho Marathon tragedy from which the young Portuguese, P. Lazaro, died in hospital, and incidentally he touches upon ;\ matter discussed in these columns i littlo while ago—the advisability of retaining this event upon tho Olympic programme. Ho says:— But was it all worth the while? Was thi grind on tho rough hilly road, under a scorching sun—was it worth the glory at the finish? I doubt it. It may have been n wonderful piece of endurance, but I also think it a senseless one, which proved nothing whatever beyond stamina; and is not stamina under such conditions often slider bruto courage? It was no pretty sight to see theso runners nt tho finish nf their races. One Swedish youngster was seized with cramp in both thighs when the goal was vol- 20 yards off. He could not stir. Kindly judges made to assist him, but they remembered l'ietri in 1008 nnd refrained. Tho youth managed in I lie-end to hobble in agony to the worsted. Some idiots shrinked with laughter at tho spectacle.' They had surely no idea to what the nthMe's sufferings amounted. In another place champagne was poured into nn athlete to revive him after he had left the track, nas any of my readers nny notion of the effcet of champagne upon a runner who has trained long,and hard, and fulfilled an arduous mission? 1 can assure them it is very quick and verv potent. The sight was not particularly inspiring. The standardisation of Hin Marathon Race was broken, at Stockholm. and T should not care did I never see the finish of another such event. There is nothing in it. "Strephon" also has much to say that is interesting and instructive abmtt the theories and methods under which tho Olympic, competitors, the Americans in ixirh'culnr, were trained, written from his personal observations at Stockholm, and as space does not permit, of their inclusion now, extracts therefrom, will bo published in this column as occasion warrants, in the hope that they will bo of service to our local athletes.