THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 21, 20 October 1920, Page 2

THE OLYMPIC GAMES

BAD CONTROL ALLEGED.; Two official reports, dated August 5 and 13. have been received in Melbourne '• from Mr. 11. Bennett; manager of the team that represented Australia at theOlympic Games at Antwerp. Referring; to the difficulties he had to contend with nt the outset owiug to lax methods ot management Air. Bennett writes:— ■ •

"The officials and- the people of Belgium, are the mest. go-as-you-please crowd that it lias ever- been my lot to meet. It is my honest-opinion that thoy would as soon have the •■ Germans in their country m the English, and.-as far as poor Australia -is .concerned_ they do not know that such a place exists; -

.- "Gerald-Patterson signed np as-a member of tlie team in London, but for some reason did not come' across to Antwerp. .The Victorian Marathon runner, Hewitt, will.have the toughest job of alls as most of-the-nations have''wonderful .men to 1 represent them. ■•''',.' "In the opening cycle, races; Australia, did not win a point. We were-very.un-lucky with regard to Halpin, who, in the opinion of all the best judges, is the fastest sprinter here. He. lost the semifinal bv paying too much attention to the American rider, Taylor, wbo came with a great reputation, and while these hvo were watching each .other. Byan, the English rider, dashed away, and they could'not overtake liim. In the amateur world's' championship, Halpin competed in the final with Peelers, of Holland, and Johnson,' of"England. Everybody expected him to,win. but with a lap 11) go his tvre punctured, the official?, contrarv to' the usual custom, refused >o have til? race re-run. Kidmß l»««d the track after the race, Pceters received a very -bad' reception. The Queenslander, King,.rode we in the o0 kilometre' event, buVfell m the fifteentli lap. through no fault'of his .own.- ; "The races were controlled m. an awl U wa'v and tlie feelings of the English-, speaking people here ran very high. Un several occasions it .looked as if a free fight was inevitable The worst episode of oil was when a Frenchman, rusicd on the hwkMid struck an Englishman named White. . ■•■ '■ ' "The class of competitors from othei countries is verv high. ;nnd I am not confident of holding the' teams. ..chamnioinhip won by Austral..™ swimmers at tlie 1912 Olviroiad. -1 he two Vic-, lomns. Tieaurepaire and Ptedmnn. swimming well, b»t Hay ond TurVlnnd are not doing within seven second-?; of tlie test, time* worded in Syrinev. America has iur-ludrd no' fewer 1 hall -II swimmers in her team, and everv one of them' is'-a first-class performer."