SPORT MANIA IN EUROPE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3352, 20 December 1926, Page 8

SPORT MANIA IN EUROPE.

GERMAN OTEB.OT>'6. HOW BOXING IS CONTROLLED. Mr Japhet, President of the NationalSporting Club of South Africa has returned from a lengthy tour of Europe, and while overseas he took a very deep interest in sports, both on the Continent and in Britain. With him isport is purely a hobby. He spent much time in his investigations, and has returned home more convinced than ever of the high place which South Africa occupies in. the sport of the world. “In Europe,” said Mr Japhet, “sport has become almost a mania. What impressed me immensely was the state of affairs in Germany. The Germans have entered into sport with all that careful diligence, and precision winch forcibly remind one ol their former military methods and accuracy. Ihey arc extremely thorough, even m the smallest detail of their games Ihey have a series of gold, silver and bronze medals which are issued in accordance with the number of branches ql sport with which a German athlete is associated. A certain standard of proficiency is set up. and the young German lias to comply with that standard in a certain number of games in order to obtain a medal. As far as 1 can recollect. Ire has to lie proficient m seven 'mines in order to obtain a gold medio, r„ five mimes for a silver medal, ami ! n,rc<- games for a bromm medal 1 iare -s/Mfethii.g like •> thousand iioldei the gold medal, and no fewer than 30.000 holders of the silver medal. , The thoroughness ol the German to which I refer is shown in no greater decree than in boxing. There is not a. city- in Germany that has not its own hoxiim club, run on moat efficient lines, and governing boxing throughout the country is a‘ very efficient Board of Control, which issues licences to boxers and promoters, deals with suspensions and disqualifications, and _ — a most important feature this—issues notifications informing boxing champions that they must defend their lilies within certain periods of time under pain of having such titles forfeited:” Germany also possesses a very fine paper dealing with boxing, and during Ids sojourn there Mr Japhet was asked to write an article for this journal dealing witlr South African sport, with special reference to boxing, which he did. In Baris Mr Japhet met several famous figures in European boxing, including Descanips, Carpent-ier’s manager when the Frenchman was at the zenith of his fame. He was also the special guest of the French Boxing Federation at a boxing tournament held at the Cinque de Paris. Both Paris and Amsterdam are splendidly 7 catered tor in the matter of a sports club. Tire clubs arc situated right in the centre of each city, so that when the business man has completed his day’s work he can go into Iris sports. club, indulge in his favorite recreation, he it boxing or fencing, etc . and afterwards- have a plunge in a delightful swimming ball) or have a hot or cold shower. One of the finest sports ground seen hv Mr Japhet in his travels was in Florence, in Italy. Covering a great area, it included a racecourse, Rugby and Succor grounds, and cycle and running tracks. During the progress/)! a'meeting a number of events are going on at the same time. The whole area is surrounded by a great- wall, which gives the impression of a modern adaptation of the old Coliseum.