NEXT OLYMPIC GAMES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 67, 11 December 1937, Page 15

NEXT OLYMPIC GAMES

Tokio Hotels Prepating

The Tokio hotel world is now alive with preparations to Teceive the tens of thousands of foreign visitors who are expected to pour into the eapital .when the Olympie Games ar.e held there in 1940. The preparations are proceeding along two distinct lines. The first and most pressing necefcsity is to increase existing accommodations. Tokio is far behind most ojher largo capitals in the number of its Western•tyle hotels and hoarding-houises, and it is easy to foresee that xooms will bo extremely scarce, even if a good deal of new building is carried out before 1940. The problem is, of course, complicat ad because the vast majority of the Japanese Iive in their traditional national little houtses, which, with their lack of beds and furniture and other appurtenances of the Western house, are not well suited for the entertainment of foreigners. The Imperial Hotel, which stan'ds out among Tokio 's hostelries and is a re- . cognised meeting-place for foreigners, has decided to Isacrifice aesthetics to utility and to put np a plainly-built annexe in f ront of its present architectur* ally bizarre and striking edifice. This will make it possible to increase the number of rooms from 280 to 500. The Sannoj another foreign style hotel, has recently carried out a substantial enlargement of its facilities. Beteides providing more Tooms the hotels are trying to provide service that is more efficient from the Western standpoint. Training courses for hotel employees have been instituted. At the present time English is tlis

lingua franca of Japan, and at leaat a smattering of it is part of the equipment of clerks and bellboys in foreignstyle hotels. But, as many foreigners of non-English speaking nationalities will be present at the Games, the hotels are trying to impart a minimum of instruction in other tongues to their erlployees. Equally serious with the problem of accommodation for the tepectators ls that of adequate playing grounds for the contestants. The stadium, which is m close' proximity to the Meiji Shrine (sacred to the spirit of the great Eniperor of the Restoration) has been tentatively chosen as the site of the Games. However, greatly enlarged grandstand facilities will be required because of the enormous number of spectators who are expected. Here a delicate spiritual problem arises. The functionaries in charge of the Meiji Bhrine grounds dislike the idea of any great alterations, which might somehow .impair the isanctitv of the place. If this obstacle cannot be overcome. a new stadium may be built elsewhere. A local English-language newspaper has been conducting a prizq contest for suggestions as to how Tokio might be improved and made .more convenient for its foreign visitors. Among the most popular suggestions which have been voiced are more English signs, translation services, and nocturnal amusements^ and less police examination of incoming travellers, camera Testrictions, and general official surveillance.