OLYMPIC GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 38, 13 August 1930, Page 3

OLYMPIC GAMES

THE BERLIN CONGRESS

MR. FACHE'S REPORT

AMATEUR STATUS

(From "Tha Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 13th June. Mr. George C. Fache- accepted an invitation extended to him to represent New Zealand at the International Olympic Games Congress at Berlin, which opened on 24th May and concluded on 30th May. Mr. Fache has returned to London from a useful and delightful trip to the German capital. In the social entertainment of the delegates the German hosts acquitted themselves well, for many were the interesting functions arranged. These included a banquet given by the City of Berlin in the Rathaus; a reception by the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Palais Prinz Friedrieh Leopold; reception by the Prussian State Government at the Castles of Potsdam; a gala night at the opera, when a memorable presentation of "The Meistersinger" was given; a visit with luncheon to the Ullsteinhaus, a big newspaper printing office, which is responsible for the publication of six daily newspapers and double that number of weeklies; sporting and gymnastic demonstrations at the Staatliches Opernhaus; steamer trip to Grunau to attend the opending parade for this season of the German Kowing Union— a wonderful sight, with at least 1000 boats taking-part; and a visit to the airport. Representatives of thirty-two countries were present for this International Conference, 'pne .of the main objects of which was' to decide the question of what constitutes amateurism. England was represented by. Lord Abcrdare and General B. J. Kentish (members of the International Olympic Committee); while Mr. F. Percy Low and Captain Evan A. Hunter (members of the British National Olympic Committee) were present also. Mr. G. A. Jenkin attended for South Africa. GIFT OP TONGUES. Most of the speeches were in French, and a great number of the foreign delegates seemed able to speak in English, but the main speeches were in French and were interpreted into English. On a few occasions the German delegates spoke in German, the idea doubtless being that they could thus express themselves with more emphasis and fluency. ' One Belgian speaker, who delivered his address in French, himself translated it into English. Upon Mr. Fache was forcibly borne the facts that most Continental peoples have indeed the gift of tongues, and that' they all speak well in French and English. The delegates assembled at noon on 24th May, at the Kunstlerhaus, to witness an exhibition of sport as a cultural factor, and this was followed by the parade of the clubs of the Deutseher Buderverband (German Bowing Union) at Grunau. Mr. Fache is enthusiastic about the wonderful spectacle of some thousand rowing boats assembled, representing all sections from different parts of the country outside Berlin: they represented schools and clubs, and there were women as well as men. i ■The Congress actually opened on the morning of 25th May, at the Friedrich Wilhelm University. Delegates were addressed by Dr. Wirth (Home Secretary), Dr. Lewald (president of the German Olympic Committee); Professor Schmidt (Beetor of the University), and Count de Latour-Baillet. The afternoon was spent at the State Opera House witnessing a sporting and athletic demonstration, in which men and women, boys and girls took part, going through an immense variety of gymnastic exercises. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED. Delegates were split np into three committees, which dealt respectively ■with the following subjects: (1) Amateurism; (2) programme for the Olympic Games; (3) consideration of the question of public playing fields'and recreation facilities. Mr. Fache was associatedl more or less with the British delegation, and was appointed to the committee to consider the question of amateurism. This, the main question, was based on the proposal of Belgium that the "granting of leave with salary paid shall not be considered as compensation for loss of salary. 3' On the resumption of the congress, the report of the committee on amateur status was taken first, and as a result of the discussion, which extended over two- days, the following was adopted: "Athletes who are qualified by the regulations and rules of their international federation are considered as amateurs for the Olympic Games provided they are qualified in compliance with the resolutions passed at Prague by the Olympic Congress, 1925, i.e.: An athlete taking part in the Olympic Games must satisfy the following conditions: (1) Must not be or have become a professional in the sport for which he is entered or in any other sport; (2) must not have received reimbursement or compensation for loss of salary." The conference, by 69 votes to 12, decided: "That for the present it is not necessary to define the question of 'leave with salary paid, 5 and asks the Internationa] Olympic Congress to submit this question for consideration to the executive committee and the Consultative Council of the international federations." After lengthy discussion it was decided that the period of the Games, including the opening days,- must not exceed sixteen days. This, recommendation of the sub-coiriniitteo was carried by the General Congress. The result of the discussion regarding participation of women in the Olympic Games was that no. alteration was made in the existing provisions relating to women,' it being left to the International Olympic Committee'to fix the programme for women. In regard to the third subject discussed—"public playing fields and recreation facilities" —the report was taken as road. It was accepted and approved for circulation to the various nations interested. SPLENDID TKAINING CENTRE. Mr. Fache found the sporting and gymnastic demonstrations at the Deutscues Sportforum wonderfully interesting, inasmuch as they demonstrated what the people are doing. "I saw every form of athletic exercises being taken part in by people who appeared to be students," he said. "I noticed many dark-skinned people among them, and I was told that there were even Japanese students at the college taking courses of physical education. There were also Turks. Girl students were taking all kinds of exercises—throwing javelins, handball, fencing, swimming, and entering for all kinds of physical drill. Some of the women are really magnificent specimens, possessing physique equal to the men. The stadium seemed, to be like a great school, every kind of physical drill and exercise going on at the- same time in different parts of the building and grounds." The president of the International Olympic Committee expressed a wish to meet Mr. Fache, as representative of New Zealand, as also did Mr. W. M. Garland (representative of the United States, and chairman of the committee of the, Olympic Games, vrhinh are to be held at Los Angeles). Mr. Garland,

during the congress," was able to give the delegates, by means of a film, some idea of the provision being made in. his country for the next Games in. 1932/ Mr. Garland expressed to Mr. Facho the-hope that New Zealand would be well . represented. Mr. Fache told him ho thought there was a strong chance of getting a good Eight to go to Los Angeles.