AMATEUR STATUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1926, Page 2

AMATEUR STATUS.

01. VM PIC DEFINITIONS

WELLINGTON, June 0

Drastic decisions regarding the amateur status of competitors at the Olympic Games were reached at the congress held at Prague recently. The congress, While accepting the definition of amateur status given by the respective international sporting federations, has determined that at the same time all athletes taking part in the Games .must comply, as a minimum, with two conditions: they must not be professional in any branch of sport whatsoever, and they must not have been reinstated as amateurs after having knowingly become professionals. Also, they must not have any compensation for lost salaries. Trainers, advisers, instructors, and coaches, who teach competitive games for money, directly or indirectly, can neither compete at the Olympic Games nor act ns judges or members of juries. Professors or teachers, who do not specially train or teach competitive games and exercises, however, are eligible to compete in the Games, and to act in the capacities mentioned. Lengthy sporting competitions which take place far irom the home of the competitor are condemned by the congress, and it is recommended that as a general rule, no competitor should remain away from his homo for more than one fortnight in the year to take part ill any sporting competitions. At the same time it is recogised that for important international competitions, •such as the Olympic Games, and for national competitions, certain exceptions are necessary. These exceptions, however, should he infrequent, and rigidly controlled. It is necessary, in view of congress, that in all national contests disbursements for maintenance and expenses should he made throueb the national governing body. Competition under conditions other than those l* l id down will render a competitor ineligible to take part in -the Olympic Games. The congress decided that any , payment to a competitor as compensation for salary lost was a. direct financial gain and professionalised that competitor. It decided also to ask the international federations to make the Olympic Games world championships or in the event of refusal, not to hold world championships in the years the Olympic Games take place.