CONTACT IN SPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 24, 29 January 1927, Page 6

CONTACT IN SPORT

THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT

GREAT VALUE OF THE GAMES

DUKE OF SUTHERLAND'S

SPEECH

It is as important that our prestige should be maintained in international sport as in international politics, commerce, and arts. A 1 physically healthy nation is as object lesson to the rest of the world. —The Duke of Sutherland, at the British Olympic Association's dinner. ■ ■ . .. In view of the preparations being made to have New Zealand represented at the next Olympic Games, to be held at Amsterdam next year, points made by the Duke of Sutherland in his speech at the British Olympic Association's dinner recently are of particular inters est. The Duke of Sutherland is.jre-" sident of the British Olympic Association, and in the course of his speech he pointed "out that the interest that had been roused by the efforts of the 8.0.A. in the past, and that would undoubtedly be increased, extended to all classes of the people throughout Britain and throughout the Empire. "I may remind you," he said, "that at a banquet in connection with the Paris Games some two years ago, the Prince of Wales read a message from the King, which contained the following words: — . , "As patron of the British Olympic Association, I wish all possible success to our members who are competing in the Olympic Games. . . Whatever" be , the result of the contests, I know that the demands on your strength, skill, and endurance will be met with that spirit of plucky and good sportsmanship so traditional of the British race." For.his own part, the Prince of Wales, said: "If in time of : peace we <san teach every young fellow to play the game, to become a true sportsman, we shall in time see realised the great idea of this enterprise. The youth of the world will form a league of sportsmen and of trup friends, thoroughly versed in the rules of every game and, above all, in those of the noble game of life." - . . . "It would be hardly possible to set out our objects more, clearly, no mat-, ter at what length than.do these words of the King and the v Prince of Wales, for they express exactly what we ar# striving for. ■ I am glad to add that the King has shown in the most unmistakable manner his continued interest in the work of our association, not only by remaining our patron, but by ajways subscribing to our funds'. ' ' "It is proper also that I should bear witness to efforts made on our behalf by a certain unher.editary and unelected power in this country. I mean the Press. Without the help of! the great, organs of opinion and publicity, our association eauld not hope or expect to be effective. Public meetings, however pleasant for those who take part in them—and especially for. the speakers at them —are really important in most ca3es only in the ratio that they) are reported by the Press. We have among our vice-presidents and supporters a number of gentlemen—many, I am glad, are here this evening—who exercise authority over large sections of the newspaper world in this country. Their interest in pur endeavours is clear from their presence, and I hope they will not fa.il to make this interest count in the papers they control. While Bpeaking of the Press, I must mention one of the youngest and, I fear, not yet widely circulated publications in this coun : try. ■ Our association now publishes "The British Olympic Journal" quarterly, as a" recurrent stimulus to our movement; in.order to provide sportsmen and spwtswomen of Great Britain with a pMblication in which their views can be expressed; and as a medium through which governing bodies of sport can reach the. vast masses of young people. THE TASK AHEAD. "Public curiosity in our activities is at this moment, I suppose, largely directed towards what we propose to do in regard to the Amsterdam Games the year after next. For this Olympiad the Council of the Association has come to the conclusion that it will have to leave to governing bodies of various sports the raising of such money as they may think necessary for their purposes. This has seemed to us the best method of procedure, and I have no doubt it will be accepted as such by the various bodies involved. At the same time we liavo no desire to shelve our own responsibility. The association proposes onceagain to charge itself with those expenses which can be bettor undertaken by it than by individual bodies and we intend to see that men and women who represent Great Britain and uphold British prestige before the assembled nation at Amsterdam, shall be properly housed, properly fed, and properly equipped, to do themselves, full justice."!

Our Housing Committee has charge o± this side of our enterprise, and you may be certain its funds will be wiseiy and economically used, and we shall take as many men and women as the •' .governing body in each individual sport wishes us to take aid considers ! to be up to Olympic standard; And if funds permit, we should like to' take over, in addition, a certain number of men and women whose capacity may not at the moment be up to Olympic standard, but 'who nevertheless will gain enormously by the experience. If we are able to: do this, they on their return will'afford' others the benefit of these experiences. They will also encourage the Olympic spirit through ' the-whole community. , ■ THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT. ■ "By 'the Olympic Spirit' I mean' the whole range of ideals which underlies our. participation in Olympic Games.' It does not mean simply the wish and the will for our country to do well—though we'd be poor sportsmen if we. did not "wish that. ■ "We are determined -that Great Britain shall bo worthily represented becarise it is as. important that our prestige should be maintained in international sport as in international polities, commerce, and the arts. A physically healthy nation is an object-lesson to the rest of the .world. "I am speaking from practical knowledge 'when I say nothing tightens international bonds and heals international wounds as quickly and effectively as contact in sport. Nations which seemed during war years sundered for ever from friendly contact with each other, and whose governments even today are in some cases not altogether in harmonious relations, are meeting in sport. ■•'■■.-.. |". i "I hope-that, as a result . of.-..the !: spread of the' Olympic spirit,'we: shall soon find all restrictions in the;world of sport against bona fide foreign teams removed. And that the gradual restoration of economic conditions on the Continent will make possible what has not always been possible during recent years—frequent and welcome visits of foreign sportsmen of all nationalities ~to take part in our competitions. • :■ "The Olympic Spirit improves international relationship; it encourages the athletes of every nation.to set teamwork and patriotism before personal gain and glory; it improves athletic achievement to a standard ' never before dreamed of in the world of sport; and, not least, it gives extraordinary impetus to athletics and open-aii life" among all classes of the community in every country. I cannot do better than quote the words of Count BailietLatour:^ 'England has given us another, example of her '• sportsmanship. England must always come to the Olympic Games, because without her the Games would, not be Olympic Games at all.' GOODWILL OF GOVERNING BODIES. "Our association was founded 21 years ago. It was founded at a-meet-ing at the House of Commons in May, 1905, when that fine sportsman Mr. W. - H.- Grenfell (now Lord Desbor'ough) was elected chairman, and the Eev. R. S. de Courcy Laffan became hdn. secretary. lam glad to say that during all these twenty-one years the association has realised the impossibility of achieving its objects without gaining the full confidence and wholehearted assistance of the governing body of each branch of British sport. ■ ■ ■ '' These governing bodies have supported us splendidly right from the beginning. They have realised in their turn that there must be a central body like our association, to be the channel between them and the International Olympic Committee, and also the country organising the Games."