OLYMPIC GAMES.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19463, 9 November 1928, Page 16

OLYMPIC GAMES.

AUSTRALIAN MANAGER'S REPORT. ARRANGEMENTS CRITICISED. (VAOX OUH OWS COEBBSPOBDWT.) SYDNEY, November 2. Trenchant criticism of the lack of organisation and the arrangements made for the Australian Olympic team of 1928 are contained in Mr L. E. Duff's report of the tour, which was placed before members of the Australian Olympic Federation at a conference in Melbourne last night. Mr L. EDuff was manager of the party, which recently returned to Australia. It was a most compi ehensive report, and, in addition to detailing the experiences of thiß team, Mr Duff maclo many recommendations for the conduct of future tours. He dealt at some length with the trials of the touring party,'and the report was most emphatic on the disappointing and unsatisfactory arrangements made by Mr Vicary Horniman, of the Olympic Federation. Special reference was also made to the necessity of asking middle-ageu married women to act as chaperons, and there was also a hint that several of the athletes chosen to represent Australia were not prepared to consider seriously the question of rigorous dieting.

Social Distractions. In his report Mr Duff states: — "The team suffered in many ways owing to the belated arrangements, both financial and administrative. It is useless sending a team away unless it is formed and financed on a definite policy formulated at least three years prior to the games. Teams should not travel to the games on the big liners, as there is too much of the social side, from which it is difficult to keep the less seasoned members of -the team. The manager also should have the power to send sub-managers, coaches, and masseurs back to Australia should they not obey his instructions or their conduct warrants such drastic action.

"The chaperon should be selected with everv care, and it is important that the lady be married, and preferably middle-aged. Coaches ana masseurs should be taken, even if that means the leaving out of some athlete of medium ability."

Women Did not Diet. "Only athletes up to Olympic standards should be sent, and it is better to send a small team that is properly equipped than a large team that has to fend for itself. Women athletes should travel on a separate boat, and be housed at a different It is useless sending women unless they train and diet conscientiously. The women athletes caused me great concern regarding their diet, and ,on many ocasions it was necessary to talk to them. I regret to say I received no support from the chaperon. I had their supplies of potatoes and fatty substances cut off, But on the last day of the voyage I discovered that they had made arrangements for the prohibited foodstuffs to be sent to their cabin. Only two male members of the party did not pay particular attenion to their diet."

Arrangements Not Good. "After some time in England the 'team left for Amsterdam, where th« arrangements made by Mr Vicary Horniman _were far from satisfactory. In my opinion, the selection of the Hotel Velserbeek was a great mistake, and I am at a loss to understand how Mr Horniman ever came to make such contracts, especially committing me to pay for 20 men, whether they ■ were there or not, and not providing for a cup of tea for lunch or dinner without extra charge. "The doings of the team are well known, and although we only had one victory, the majority of the team did its best, and was beaten by better men on the day. Some of the members were unable to give of their best through the excessive travel and the climate.

Suggested Empire Games. "At a banquet of the English A.A.A., I made the suggestion that the Umpire Games should be revived, and at a meeting of all the managers of the Dominion teams, the Empire Sports Federation was. formed. This does not mean that Australia should withdraw from the Olympic Games'!'' , Evidently the recommendatons made by Mr L. E. Duff, regarding the necessity for making arrangements at least three years before the Games are held has borne fruit. Already a scheme has been suggested for the raising of funds and the coaching «f promising athletes.