AN OLYMPIC LESSON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22985, 14 September 1936, Page 16

AN OLYMPIC LESSON

OARSMEN MIGHT NOTICE CLUB CREWS EXCELLED SO WHAT ABOUT TOKIO? (From Our Own Correspondent) : (By Air Mail) LONDON, August 19. If New Zealand decides to send the pick of her oarsmen to compete at the next Olympic Games at Tokio, Mr M. Grace (Wanganui), who has rowed for Otago University, St, Bartholomew's and the Wanganui Club, has a suggestion to make after what he has seen at Berlin: Club crews should represent the Dominion. This theory is by no means new to New Zealand, for it has also been advanced by Mr C. A. Healey (Wanganui). At Berlin, Mr Grace points out, Germany won five races, a second and a third. Except for her pair-oar crew, the remainder of her representatives were club combinations' The Eights were won by the University of Washington, and the Double Sculls by members of the Thames Rowing Club. English crews were picked after Henley and given a hurried preparation. They were beaten, and Britain's rowing prestige has never been lower than it has this year. “Does not this point the way for the selection of our rowing representatives in Tokio four years hence? ” asks Mr Grace. “It also seems to point to a long preparation together, which is impossible in New Zealand with a composite crew.” Looking back on the Olympic Games, this New Zealander pays a tribute to the wonderful organisation which if it erred did so on the side of overorganisation, sometimes to an irritating degree. There were a few “ incidents”: the protest against the decisions of the judges of wrestling (by the English-speaking races); the PeruAustria Soccer match, notable for the spectators’ participation in the game by kicking the players; the South African protest when the judges confused two boxers and announced the wrong man winner. In this latter case the judge threw out the protest because it was not accompanied by cash! A popular nation were the Japanese. They excelled especially in swimming, and appeared to thrive on training “which would knock up any white man, making him as stale as last month’s loaf!” It was noticeable that, after winning their races, the Japanese did not stay in the bath, floating about and revelling in the crowd’s applause. They were out of the bath and down to the changing room in a flash, sometimes before their opponents had finished the course. The “ mass psychology ” of the German was surprisingly demonstrated at various intervals during the Games. An “incident” occurred when Leibbrandt (South Africa), a boxer, beat a Czechoslovakian. The verdict, a just one, was received with whistles and howls, which continued for a considerable period. Finally the president of the German Boxing Association felt constrained to appeal, by microphone, for fair play. In so many words he told the crowd to shut up and behave like sportsmen. Promptly there was an outburst of clapping. The German crowds, comments Mr Grace, always appear to require telling what to do. Leaving the grounds at the stadium there were often fights for buses and trams until they were told to behave (with the aid of a loud speaker). Then the squabbling subsided. WHAT ABOUT HOCKEY? Mr John L. Howman (Christchurch) was another New Zealand visitor to the Games. He was especially interested in hockey. Dyhan Chand, the famous Indian player, told Mr Howman that he could not understand why New Zealand had not entered a hockey team, for he considered the Dominion could field one the equal of any that India played in Berlin. Mr Howman also considers that, if New Zealand enters a team at Tokio, it will find only All India barring its way to the championship of the world.