SPIRIT OF SPORT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20273, 26 June 1931, Page 17

SPIRIT OF SPORT.

TENTH OLYMPIC GAMES. t NEW ZEALAND'S TEAM. (Contributed.) There may be some who are moved to ask themselves, when mention is made of New Zealand's representation at the Olympic Games at Los Angeles in the middle of next year, whether there is anything to be gained from participation in such international contests. In one of his most telling speeches -in favour of the Olympic Games, Lord Birkenhead, at the first annual dinner of the British Olympic Association, dealt with the position from the point of view of the sceptically inclined. Lord Birkenhead was a warm supporter of athletics in general, and of the British Olympic Association in particular, and a firm believer in the objects of international contest. Speaking at the British Olympic Association's dinner, at which he was the chief guest,' Lord Birkenhead said: "I am frequently asked, are these great international competitions worth while f Do they do goodf To that my reply is: If they can promote among all the nations of the world the spirit of sport as we. understand the word: if they can stimulate endurance and courage and the high spirit of youth: If they can marshal the emulations and rivalries of nations in a pacific field instead of nourishing them in the evil miasma of war, then their object is worthy of the | utmost .endeavour.'' It has been said by Mr Thomas, an old Oxford, crosscountry Blue, and author of a book on Lord Birkenhead, that there was only one man who could do justice to tho phrase, "the evil miasma of war."

Worthy Representatives. Assuming that the reference to Lord Birkenhead's speech dispels doubts about the value of international contests, there may yet be the cry: "Oh, but we 'vo got no one we can, send with a reasonable chance of winning anything." That may be so, but the New Zealand Olympic Association, which has launched an art union to enable funds to be obtained to send a team to Los Angeles, docs not look at things in that light. Its views, perhaps, may best be expressed by referring to the opinion stated by. a very well-known New Zealand sportsman in 1923, when the New Zealand Olympic Association was "scraping" for funds to dispatch n team to the 1924 Games at Paris. "In the endeavour," he said, "to secure New Zealand's representation at the next Olympic Games it is neither necessary nor desirable to set out with the idea of finding icam of certain winners. No other nation does it. What New Zealand has do in the past, and should adhere to in the future, is to select representatives who measure up to the average of the world's best, or who, being a little below it, are by th-3 outstanding nature of their performances judged, by New Zealand standards, or by their promise of a subsequent rise to the world standard, will be worthy representatives." At previous Olympiads, New Zealand, with very small team®, has made a good showing. . Tho performances of some of our . representatives—H. E. Wilson (hurdler), George Davidson (sprintor), and S. A. Lay (javelin thrower), for

instance—has been notably good. Funds are the first need of the Olympic Gaines Association, and, providing thero is sufficient money forthcoming, there is every-reason to believe that from tho talent which is undoubtedly available in New Zealand, it will be possible to select a strong team that will, at least, uphold tho honour of this Dominion.