BRITAIN'S ATHLETIC PRESTIGE

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1865, 26 September 1913, Page 6

BRITAIN'S ATHLETIC PRESTIGE

The Olympic Games to be held in Berlin in 1916 are sure to be the occasion of a most determined international struggle for athletic supremacy. Soon after the selection of Berlin as the scene of the contests, the Germans made it clear that they were going to mako a great effort to surpass all competitors, and they have been steadily proceeding with the work of organisation and preparation ever since. Britain's display at the Stockholrn gathering in 1912 was very disappointing, and a strong movement has been started with tho object of regaining the lost laurels. A few weeks ago an appeal was made to the nation for £100,000 for the purpose of ensuring tho adequate representation of the United Kingdom at Berlin in 1916. It was signed by Lord Grey, Lord Harris, Lord Roberts, Lord Rothschild, Lord Strathcona, and the Duke of Westminster, and a cablegram published in The Dominion on Tuesday stated that tho British Government has made a grant of £15,000 to the Olympic Sports Committee. These facts indicate most unmistakably that the matter is being taken up in a vigorous manner, and show that the United _ Kingdom is not going to lag behind in the struggle for athletic supremacy. Some peoplo may think that £100,000 is a surprisingly large sum to ask for, but it is explained that it is not only to finance athletes attending the actual Games that the money is required. Special efforts are to bo made to bring to light new athletic _ talent, and for this purpose extensive organisation throughout the country will have to be undertaken. The appeal declares that it is a national duty to provide the necessary funds to enable a careful search to be made for suitable athletic talent; to, allot trainers and coaches in every district; to give standard _ medals for good performances at trial meetings; to organise and endow the efforts made by all tho leading associations controlling British sport; to specialise training in those events of tho Olympic programme which are at present unfamiliar to British athletes; and to secure a' unitv of purpose, unhampered by lack of means, among all those who are connected with the various branches of sport in which the athletes will have to compete in Germany. All this looks like turning sport into a very serious bu&iness, but in these days unless such a matter is taken up in a scientific and systematic mannei; it might as well be left alone altogether, for success would bo out of the question. The _ training of athletes has become a science, and without expert guidance more harm than good may be done. It would bo sheer folly to send men to compete at Berlin who were not in tho highest state of physical fitness, or who had not undergone a proper period of systematic training. It is not merely a question of national honour and glory; it is also a matter of national well-being, and "the raising of the standard of physical capacity in tho British Isles is one of the ideals which the Special Committee and the British Olympic Council will firmly keop beforo them." It could hardly bo expected that the appeal for so large a sum as £100,000 would be allowed to pass without criticism. The headmaster of Sherborne School condemnecl tho proposal as "positively degrading," being equivalent to "buying victories"; and Mr. Frederic Harrison declared that it was a form of "professional pot-hunt-ing," and would degrade the Olympic contests to "the level of a mob at old- ' fashioned prize fights." But this sort of criticism is most unreasonable, for it would be absolutely impossible for Britain to be adequately represented at Berlin in 1916 without incurring heavy expense, and in any case the British athletes will do nothing to forfeit their amateur status, for, as The Times states, their incidental expenses will be paid by their fellowplayers throughout the country. Unless the nation is prepared to provide the nccessary funds for the objects mentioned in tho appeal, it is hardly worth while being represented at all. To decline tho challenge would naturally ' damage Britain's athletic prestige, and if it is taken up in a half-hearted way victory cannot reasonably bo expected, and her prestige will suffer through overwhelming defeat. If tho general public could be consulted on the subject they would no doubt decide that Britain should go in for the contests with a whole-hearted determination to win, and that nothing should be left undono that is likely to contribute to the_ success of the British representatives.