IN RETROSPECT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 259, 1 November 1928, Page 9

IN RETROSPECT.

THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

DR. POREITrS VIEWS ON N.Z. COMPETITORS. MISS WILSON UNLUCKY.

Dr. Arthur Porritt, in the course of a ■ letter to a friend in Wanganui, makes some very interesting comments on the Olympic Games recently held at Amsterdam, and the doings of the New Zealand team, of which, by the way, he was appointed captain. "I've almost had enough of Olympic Games, I think, bnt still, iv «ras interesting \, see rnem from the side of the 'official' this time, as against that of the competitor. The New Zealand team was billeted at the Lloyd Hotel with the British team. It was really an excellent place for the purpose, having been converted from an emigrant hotel specially for the British Olympic Association, who took it over completely for the period of the Games. Most of the men slept in large dormitories, divided by canvas into cubicles with two beds. I acted as captain and 'chef de mission' to the New Zealand team, and spent afternoons watching all the wonderful doings at the Stadium and the evenings at meetings." In the mornings Dr. Porritt was kept very busy with all sorts of official jobs, and with meetings at night, official letters, dinners, and private parties, it was a full and interesting life. "I think I earned my passage despite my not actually running. As a matter of fact, when the first Sunday came, and the 100 metres heats, I nearly succumbed to the temptation of turning out, as 1 did also again on the Tuesday for the 200 metres, and I don't think, even in my present condition, I would have had! much difficulty in getting through the first round of both, but further than that I certainly would not have gone, and that would have been disappointing to all concerned, especially to myself. Really I am sure I was wise to cut the whole show, but it was hard to sit there seeing it being run, and know one might have been actively in it. During the fortnight I attended three long meetings —practic-, ally three days—of the International Amateur Athletic Federation, represent-! iing Australia and New Zealand, and| managed, among other things, to ob *** n l separate representation for New Zealand.

They were long dull shows, everything translated into three languages—English, French and German, but in their way, quite an education.

New Zealand Team Disappoints. Going on to speak of the New Zealand team, Dr. Porritt says it proved very disappointing and really only two members were worthy of the trip—Morgan, the boxer, who put up an excellent show to win the welter-weights, and Lay, the javelin thrower, who, though he failed in Amsterdam, is really world's class, and perhaps the little girl sprinter (Miss Wilson), who had very hard luck in not getting to the final. She ran two excellent races.

Dr. Porritt goes on to say: "None of the swimmers was ever .in "the class at all. Of course I got lots of thrills out of the Britishers, all of whom I know, .and altogether the Empire put up an excellent show, and, to my mind, the Games have been outstanding in a very successful concerted (if unconsciously so) effort to break up the U.SJL monopoly." Continuing, Dr. Porritt says: "Another thing I enjoyed this time was seeing at any rate a glimpse of most of the other sports besides athletics, but the conclusion I draw from so doing is that the whole thing is far too unwieldy, and there are quite a number of sports (e.g., weight lifting, gymnastics, yachting and equestrian games which really have no worthy place in the scheme at all."

Dr. Porritt also comments on the policy of sending young women competitors so far, and feels sure that under certain circumstances many of them did not do themselves justice.

Dr. Porritt also stated that with David Lowe, the Olympic champion, they were engaged in writing a book on athletics which should be full of interest to those, who take an interest in this branch of sport.