ATHLETIC HERO-WORSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1928, Page 8

ATHLETIC HERO-WORSHIP.

A eurious sign of the times is the crusade against the coming Olympic Games now being conducted by the ministers of the Reformed Churches in Holland. The principal objection mined by the Ministers' Association appears to be that "the cult of tlie hero is opposed to all sacred commands." Without considering the doctrinal or Scriptural grounds for this statement we agree that hero-worship in the sphere of athletics may tend to unhealthy and demoralising social effects. It may further be conceded that the attempt to win a world's championship at the Olympic Games, because victory reflects so much glory upon tho individual, is likely to develop selfishness and lack of regard for the rights and interests of others far more effectually than any ordinary athletic rivalry. But the tone of lofty moral reprobation adopted by the Reformed Church ministers is a wholesale condemnation with which we are unable entirely to agree.

There is, however, another side on which it seems to us the Olympic Games are easily open to criticism. Tho "Daily Express" has recently made a vigorous attack upon these international contests on the ground of the bittei personal hostility and rc-sentment that they have caused, and the danger lest these unfortunate differences should produce unpleasant political and international reactions. The Games were instituted to raise the standard of athletic achievements and to improve the atmosphere of sport evervwhere. But, according to the "Daily Express," while they have eertairjv failed to produce thi_•= effect, they leave behind them a permanent legacy of jealousy and suspicion which is described as "definitely lowering to the competitors, the committees, and the nations that they represent." While this condemnation may be too sweeping, the many reports of quarrels arising out of the contests and the chaiges of partiality and even of foul plav that have occasionally been heard seem to provide some justification for the incisive diatribe of the "Daily Express."

E\ en if v>c discount heavily the references to "ill-will, accusations and recriminations" which are said to have been occasioned by these Games, it is an open question whether "over-organised semi-professional gatherings" of this type really do much for the advancement of athletics in the broadest sense of the term. The difficulty about professionalism is, as the "Daily Express" suggests, a serious one, and it indicates the keenness of the competitive spirit engendered and the desperate efforts that are made to win distinction at these Games. No doubt the prospect of ultimate material gain plays an important part in many cases in this struggle for world championships; and this alone removes the Olympic Games of to-day infinitely far in spirit from their Greek prototypes, where the victor was hailed as the glory of his birthplace and his nation and was content with rewards of no intrinsio value. In any case, the tendency to idolise the successful athlete and to exaggerate his importance needs no encouragement anywhere to-day; and though we are hardly yet inclined to endorse the "Daily Express" dictum that "the best thing England can do is to drop out of the Games entirely," we may still wonder whether the Dutch Reformed ministers are far wrong in their conviction that "the cult of the hero" as illustrated in the Olympic Games may produce a demoralising rather than an elevating effect upon the whole athletic world. It should be added, however, that under existing conditions athletes throughout the Empire rightly regard it as a point of honour that their own country should be represented at these gatherings, and we join with all other athletic enthusiasts in wishing the New Zealand team which is to compete at Amsterdam all possible success.