OLYMPIC GAMES

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 July 1936, Page 11

OLYMPIC GAMES

LOVELOCK’S DECISION.

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.]

LONDON, July 24.

The “Daily Sketch’ 1 says that J. E. Lovelock has decided to compete in the 1500 metres at the Olympic Games, in view of C. H. Matthews coming on for the 5000 metres. Thus Lovelock will probably again meet Wooderson. who is attempting both the 800 and the 1500 metres, and the American, Glenn Cunningham, who deprived Lovelock of the world's mile record, and the Italian, Beccali, winner at Los Angeles. Dr. A. E. Porritt (manager of the New Zealand team) says he is not worried by Lovelock's display against Wooderson in the British championships on July 11. He has come on a lot since then, and he has now regained the peak of his form. Lovelock says that V. P. Boot and Matthews found the adaptation of their style to the cinder tracks slow and painful. They appear to have turned the corner, however, and they should now show rapid progress. A remarkable two miles by Lovelack in 9min 3 4-ssec. easily a British record, was the feature of the Birchfield Harriers’ sports at Birmingham.

BELGIAN TEAM.

BRUSSELS, July 25

A team of eleven athletes, masseur, trainer and manager, is going to the Olympic Games at a cost of £195.* The Government has refused to give any assistance. As a result athletes throughout Belgium contributed to a fund to finance the entry.

TORCH EXTINGUISHED

BELGRADE, July 26.

The Olympic torch which was sunposed to he carried unquenched to Berlin, suffered the ignominy of extinction, when a few miles inside ot the .Yugoslavian border, whither it was borne from Bulgaria. The torches are calculated to burn for five minutes, enabling the runner to hand on the flame. When a bearer saw the torch flickering, he placed it in an accompanying car, which speeded up to reach the awaiting runner, but the light went out before he handed it over, necessitating relighting with a prosaic match, the sacred Olympic Flame originally kindled by the sun.

MISS HOLM’S DISMISSAL

LONDON, July 25.

By (he dismissal of Miss Holm, who is regarded as the most beautiful athlete in the country, the United States forfeits almost certain victory in the Olympic 100 metres backstroke. The committee instructed her to leave for the United States on Saturday, but interviewed at her hotel in Berlin, Miss Holm said: “I am staying here to see the Games. I am a free citizen and I cannot be sent home.”

In deciding not to reverse its decision, the committee disregarded Miss Holm’s tearful plea for another chance, also a petition signed by 100 of her team mates, which stated: “We feel that the disciplinary measures which are attended by public shame, are too severe. Undoubtedly, this step was taken to safeguard the morale of the team, but we feel that it has already accomplished its purpose.” At the beginning of the voyage the team was advised that the bar was out of bounds. Miss Holm told the “Stfnday Dispatch”: “I. have had the rawest deal in the world. The stories of drunkenness and misconduct at present being circulated are entirely without foundation. Neither I, nor anyone else, removed any clothes. My conduct is morally irreproachable. At least 100 others have broken the training rules.” Miss Holm has received many cablegrams of sympathy. She had a transAtlantic telephone conversation with her husband, who said: “Keep fighting.” The American Olympic Committee has issued a statement that it held (wo meetings to consider the Holm case. Several committeemen originally favoured her removal from the team, but it was decided to warn her that another offence would lead to her dismissal.' Subsequently, in view of the severe criticism from the other Olympic Games representatives and passengers because the committee had not acted drastically, a second meeting was held. Miss Holm could not be aroused in the cabin she occupied with two young swimmers, by the team’s physician and the ship’s doctor, who were sent to make an examination, on which the committee reached a unanimous decision that the team of 400 was the best behaved ever sent abroad. It was most unfortunate that this unpleasant affair had marred an otherwise admirable journey. Miss Holm is. considering an offer to appear on British films. “I have no feeling against the American Olympic Committee,” she said, “but. the fact is that I was condemned without a hearing. The committee told me it. was O.IC to go to the bar as long as 1 was not seen drinking.”

FOLLIES’ GIRL’S RETORT. (Recd. July 27, 2.45 p.m.). LONpON, Juiy 26. The Berlin correspondent of the “Sun-Herald” says: Holm’s disqualification continues to cause the liveliest discussion. A yqung Ziegfield Follies beauty says: “These narrow-minded mean little people talked a lot about me, but they themselves set us a terrible example in conduct. Cocktail parties were held nightly between New York and Hamburg.”