AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14909, 6 March 1914, Page 2

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

-4TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS."* Sir, —In Wednesday's issue of your paper, under the above heading, is a remark which is too absurd to pass without comment, "the resuscitation of amateur athletics in Christchurch still needs to be accomplished." Do you imagine that a few championship events will resuscitate the sport by one magnificent bound? Your report seems to imply that belief! Thoso enthusiasts who are at present engaged, in reviving amateur sports have steadily gained ground, and the series of championship events which are now being held is only another step in the right direction. For some'years amateur athletics have been very dead, and various reasons are ascribed for this, but I will not discuss them now. At the present time there are a body of young fellows who have allied themselves with a number of Drominent business men to obtain the following objects. 1. To create an interest and enthusiasm for amateur sport. 2. To teach athletes to place the contest first, and while striving for victory, never to forget that it is secondary to the sport. 3. To make the performances so interesting that the public will attend the meetings. The first two objects are almost accomplished. I have never seen a cleaner or a keener lot of athletes than are at present in training at Lancaster Park. These boys are out te win every race, but thoy take a beating in the l"est of spirit. The third object stated above is yet to be accomplished. Now, sir, what are the newspapers doing to bring again into public favour amateur athletics, which have done so much to make British manhood what it is— clean, morally and physically? Nothing —less than.nothing 1 Do they ever describe an amateur athletic meeting in similar language to that used in connexion with the cricket match last week? Quite recently we had in Christchurch a team of athletes as famous in their line as the Australian cricketers, but their performances were dismissed with a few paltry sentences of comment. I presume because you believe that the public are not interested. The great majority may not be, but you can make them by fostering amateur athletics in as equally enthusiastic a way as you do cricket, football, or hockey. You will agree with mc that it is a sport on an equal footing with any of the above, and infinitely superior in building character and physique to a sport upon which you devote columns each day. Sir, lam hopeful of seeing you do your part to mould public opinion in favour of amateur athletics by bright, detailed reports and sane comments, and to give a word of praise where merited to those athletes who. by hard training acid clean living. are endeavouring to earn the honoured title of an amateur sport.—Yours, etc., OSCAR W. B. ANDERSON, Hon. Secretary, Canterbury Centre N.Z.A.A.A. fSo far as "The Press" is concerned, we cannot admit that th«r supporters of amateur athletics have any grievance. The fortunes of any sport are mainly in the hands of those who control it.—Ed. "The Press."}