OLYMPIC GAMES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1938, Page 5

OLYMPIC GAMES

ABANDONED BY JAPANESE OWING TO ENORMOUS STRAIN OF WAR IN CHINA. INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION ALSO POSTPONED. By Telegraph —Press Association. Copyright. (Recd This Day, 9.50 a.m.) TOKIO, July 14. The Ministry of Public Welfare has vetoed the Olympic Games. Besides not holding the Olympic Games, Japan is reported to be not allowing Japanese to compete wherever the Games are held. The Ministry of Welfare plans a national athletic meeting in 1940. The decision arises from Japan’s unwillingness to spare war materials on a vast building programme which is considered inadvisable in view of the enormous strain of the war in China on the country’s financial resources. The same reason has prompted the Ministry of Commerce’s decision to postpone the international exhibition which was planned to open simultaneously with the Games, “pending the termination of the war in China.”

Mr Soyeshima, a member of the international games committee, expressed regret at the decision and the hope that the Games would be held in Tokio in 1948. CERTAIN TO BE HELD. COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE NEW LOCATION. (Recd This Day, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, July 14. Count Baillet Latour said: “The Olympic Games certainly will not be abandoned. An international committee will meet immediately to decide where they are to be held.” FINLAND APPLIES. IMMEDIATE PREPARATIONS PROPOSED. (Recd This Day, 9.50 a.m.) HELSINGFORS, July 14. Finland is immediately requesting the Olympic Committee to permit it to proceed with preparations for the 1940 Games. - GERMANY UPSET. ELABORATE PREPARATIONS MADE IN VAIN. (Recd This Day, 9.50 a.m.) BERLIN, July 14. It is understood that it is most likely the Olympic Games will be held in Finland. Germany is greatly upset, for plans had been completed to send 100 athletes and 100,000 visitors to Tokio by special liners. Thousands of people have been learning Japanese under State encouragement. AN AMERICAN VIEW. LONDON OR HELSINGFORS SUGGESTED. (Recd This Day, 10.55 a.m.) CHICAGO, July 14. Mr Brundage, chairman of the United States Olympic Committee, in a statement, said the Japanese abandonment would not prevent the Olympic Games being held in 1940 “unless the whole world was warring.” He mentioned London or Helsingfors as possible substitutes for Tokio, with a programme on a smaller scale if necessary, due to the shortness of the time for for preparations.