ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 130, 2 June 1923, Page 21

ATHLETICS.

A fear that Charles Paddock, America's leading sprinter, may professionalise himself before the Olympic Games of 1924 apparently is entertained by officials of the American A.A.U. He informed the officials that it was his intention to go to France this year whether they consented or not. The A.A.U. officials, at last advices, had cabled to France for the purpose of learning whether the meet in Paris at which Paddock desired to attend has the approval of the French athletic authorities. From information furnished by Paddock it appears that the meet is not conducted by the University of Paris, 'but by some, private organisation which has no official connec tion with the university. A letter was received by the A.A.U. "authorities froir a member of the faculty of Paddock's college stating that they advisee strongly against Paddock's trip; thai Paddock had allowed athletics to inter fere with his serious work in life for tin past two years, and that this trip woul< render worthless a whole semester'; work. Paddock informed the committei that his trip is partly for business pur poses, but be was unable to produce ancorrespondence with responsible person in Paris or to furnish any statement a: to the amount he is to receive ai expenses.