ACTIVITY OF THE GERMANS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 137, 14 June 1927, Page 7

ACTIVITY OF THE GERMANS

PREPARATIONS FOE NEXT YEAE'S SPORTS

Interesting particulars of the preparations -which Holland is making to . fulfil the obligations of host during the I Olympic Games at Amsterdam from 28th July to 12th August next year were mentioned by Lord Rochdale, the chairman of the Council of the British Olympic Association, in an interview with a "Daily Telegraph" representative recently. Lord Rochdale, who had just returned from the International Olympic Conference at Monaco, whore the first meeting 6f delegates representing thirty-five nations was opened by the Prince of, Monaco, said that the secretary of the Dutch Association stated in his report that fifty-five nations -were expected to participate in '. the Games. Germany alone was sending 340 competitors. The stadium, on which £40,000 was being spent, would be ready by January, when the fine new cycling track would also be completed. "The Germans are tremendously active in their preparations,' 3 Lord Rochdale said. "Their delegates informed me.that the German Government had already advanced £7000 towards training expenses, and were budgeting a further £15,000 this year for the same purposes. A conference of 200 representatives, of German athletic associations is to be held in Berlin, and as part of the scheme of preparation and propaganda these delegates will be taken to every important centre of physical culture in the country. ■ "A development that interests me very much," Lord Rochdale added, "is the institution of the African Games, which are to be held in Alexandria in 1929. King Fuad, who is at the head of the movement, has given £3000 towards the expanses, Alexandria is contributing. £10,000, and generous assistance has come from M. Bolanchi, who is acting as general commissioner. Every d; ision of Africa, whether it be protectorate, colony, mandated territory, or native State, will be invited to participate as separate State entities, inde-, pendent, of connection with 'larger countries, and only birth qualification,. without regard to colour or race, will be recognised.' Tho aim is to.foster physical training in Africa unti. it reaches a level that will enable Africans to compete with the rest of the T.orld. Tho.success of the Alexandrian Games would mean a further strengthening of British interests in the Olympic Game's, but wo have yet to see how the idea will "bo-taken up, and how far the methods of competitors can be made to conform to accepted standards." ■Alluding-to the BrUljh representation at Amsterdam, Lor.l 3}ochdale said that so far it had been decided to sond from 250 to 300 competitors, who would be chosen by the governing bodies of the sports concerned. As to funds, the British Olympic Association did not intend to appeal for Government support, though it was thought that a strong case could be made out, on national grounds, in favour of the application of a comparatively small sum to enable Great Britain to maintain- her proper place in the athletic world. The time had already arrived when tho need of funds was being felt.