OLYMPIC TRADITION

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 124, 29 May 1933, Page 9

OLYMPIC TRADITION

WORLD-WIDE INFLUENCE

A long and interesting article in an issue of the "British Olympic Journal" received by Mr. H. McConniek, secretary of the New Zealand Olympic Games Association, deals swith the spread of Olympic tradition around the world. It is pointed out in the article that in no way is the benefit conferred by the Olympic movement upon the whole world better exemplified than by the manner in which races are now achieving .the highest distinction who were regarded by onr forefathers as belonging to- what were called the non-sport-ing nations. '■ Half a century has not gone by, says the writer, since the first international match took.place in 1395, followed a year.later by the first celebration of the Modern Olympic Games at Athens, but America has become absolute ruler of the world of athletics, only to reach the stage when the prowess of her people in overy branch of sport receives a sterner testing at each fresli Olympic gathering. . The rise to sporting fame of some nations seems'to date quite definitely from their emancipation, from, foreign rule, following upon, the war. This is particularly noteworthy in the cases of Finland and Poland. >The pioneer of athletic* in the latter country was the girl athlete, Halinaa Konopacka, who, at Amsterdam^ made a world's record with the women's discus of 129fti 11 7-Bhi. She has been succeeded by that wonderful runner Kusoeinski and Heljasz, who has a new 101b shot putting record of 52ft'7 l-Bin. The writer refers to -the progress made by Japan, Hungary, .-Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Italy, ana France. That the- Olympic cult is spreading throughout the world is incontrovertible, that the movement is doing a. vast amount of good is a matter equally beyond argument, he concludes. For,, apart from all considerations of sporting good fellowship, the manhood and the womanhood of the world is improving by this striving after Olympic honours. Nations are learning a new respect .for one another, on account of. the prowess displayed by national' representatives.