ATHLETICS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12887, 13 June 1936, Page 11

ATHLETICS

OLYMPIC GAMES QUARTERS FOR WOMEN ATHLETES AN ADAMLE-SS EDEN The 'men who- are to take part in the Olympic Games- having bee-iii as-is-ignedi comfortable quarters in the Olympic Village, far from the noise and! distraction of thei big city, the Comradcs-hipt House pf tliy German Students’ Athletic Society has been -set aside as the temporary home- oi th-d. women 'athletes, writes- Marie Habermann, in. an Olympic bulletin. This house is -situated, very near the Olympic Stadium at the north-east cqrncr of jibe Reich Sports Field, and for the -djuration of he XI Olympic Games will be known as the“l'rauenlieim.” In case the 150 double rooms equipped with every comfortand furnished in tasteful style, will not serve to- accommodate all the young women who- are to- take part in the- Games, ono of the wings of the School' of Gymnastics will also- be requisitioned for the purpose. This- would mean that living quarters would be available tor 600 women.

, Just as out in D-ocberitz, the bodily and spiritual needs of the men arc being looked 'alter, so also in tins home, the young women will he called for in every way. For llio physical comfort- of the guests, Fiiefrau von Wangenheim has -assumed- the responsibility, vhi'.l-c for tlici-r recreation' and entertainment. Countess von Wurten--sleban will have charge of all arrangements. At flic close of the burdens 'atnd labours of a day of training, the s-portswomen, so far as their i me permits, will gather for a congenial hour in the library, reading-room, music room, or games room, as the case may bo. and will also be able to hear music and song programmes so arranged as to insp're international iellowship. Each of the 150 bedrooms contains two beds, and a clothes-press. '1 he dressing-rooms, with shower luiths, and connect ng swimming' pool and Turkish, baths, arc for the use of all the visiting -athletes. In particular the “water rats” w-.1l he pleased to- have a swimming pool so handy, with, even a. spring hoard for diving. At* the girls from Japan, as well as the girls from England and Germany —in .short every daughter of Eve—set great store* on earing for their hair, expert Discuses will he on hand, who understand the art of permanent waving, undulating, etc., and will see t-o It that the young sportswomen at the “Fraucnheim” always- wear their hair to the best advantage.

One of the biggest problems—that of assuaging the healthy young appetites—lias already been solved. The North Ge/man 'Lloyd, with if- 1-’now-ledge of international taste in cooking, Las arranged tot furnish a sufficient number of female cooks—no man will be permitted to l set loot inside the “home l ” —to pro,vide each and every young woman with her favourite national dish, whether if he a delicacy known only in .Japan, or Italian spaghetti or macaroni, which arc already known to the German cuisine. Serving-women w 1! take care of all laundry. including mending and other necessary sewing. Librarians, interpreters, masseuses, names and other attendants will be constantly at the heck and call of the guests. It will be. an easy matter for all to understand the rules of the house, posted up in five languages. So bar as time permits, the young women may visit all the interesting sights of Berlin. Thus personal contact, coming fiom living under tile same roof, in the hospitable atmosphere of the “Frauenlicim.” will contribute hi no small isliare to a feeling of understand among the nations who "'ill be gathered together from all parts of the earth under the banner of the V‘Five B ugs of Olympia.”

The “ Fraucnheini” will hi: ready to he turned, 'over to tlio Olympic; authorities by the beginning of July, and will be ready for occupancy on July Id. JJ.IUTTS.Ii RLYAL TO NURMI. Has Britain produced ;i distance runner comparable to the great l’aavo Nurmi, of Finland, and capable next August of bearing the Union Jack to victory for lho first time in the 10,000 metre race? The question is prompted by the fame that has conic 'recently to William E. Eaton. a •slightly-built,, fair-hatred Salford Harrier, 27 years of age, the first man home, ini both the KUd national 10mils track championship at the White City Stadium and the 1930 international cross-country race at Blackpool. Apropos the Olympic 10000-metre it may he noted that the event,, introduced into the programme of the games in 1912. has been won four times :by a. Finn (twice by Nurmi) and once by a Pole. The present champion is the Pole,.- J-oasef Kusocinaki, whose victory is an outstanding: memory of the 1932 festival at Las Angeles, Calif., U.S.A.When Eaton won, the 10-mile track championship 1 of the English Amateur r Athletic Association the other day in dOmin. SO.Ssees., lie, snipped 9 4-dscc. off a British record' that had stood to the credit of the famous old-timer, Alfred Schrubb, since 1904 . And while doing so- ho improved upon lour long-standing English “bests” as well. They are: 35miu. 36.8.'iees. for 7 miles by Sidney Thomas in 1892. 40mm. 's7.4sees' for 8 miles- by W. G. 'George, in 1884. 46mm.j 12secs. fur 9 miles by W. G'. George, in 1884. 5.1 min. 20secs. for 10 miles by W. •G'. George, in 1884., Eaton’® .returns for these distances are 35min.26.2secs'. • 40min. 39.4®cc5.-; 4-smin. 31.8 secs.; and 50'inin. 30.Ssecs. •Ea-tcn’® victory .was, .- remarkable not only for the last time involved hut also tor the comfortable manner in which the ,success was gained. At the end of tiro opening mile , the first five positions were, all filled by athletes who have represented England in the international cross-country race —Victor Harni'ai, G. T. Carter, G-. W. Bailey, J. A. Burns and Eaton. The last two mentioned then began to force, the pace •and before long -they had' opened a eonsiclornhle gap be--

tween themselves and the rest of the competitors. Bound and: round they strode in their light effortless way, .until they threatened to lap such tbs~ tingdished' runners a.s Bade and Harman. These two .men were determined to be not more than one circuit behind, anil their stern resolve ini this matter 'rebounded to Baton’s advantage. He set out to catch first Bailey, a fellow-member of the Salford Harriers, and: secondly Harman, and in achieving' his end lie sped over ibhe cinders at a-cracking pace, with, the result that lie approached within 15.8se.es of! the world’s record (50 min. losecs) set mp by Nurmi in Germfany in 1028. A BEAL BELAV FROM OLYMPIC TO BERLIN TOTAL OF 3400 RUNNERS A demand that has never previously been made by the Olympic organisers call for 3100 weatherproof torches A peculiar request, you may think, until, it is explained that they are for the purpose of carrying from Olympia, in Greece, the flame that will light the Olympic beacon which is to, burn continuously at the Olympic Stadium, in Berlin while the panics arc in progress.

The sun, shilling down upon Greece in tho normal course of its functions will Tght the first torch, through the medium of a burning-glass, at midday on, July 20 and the Olympic flame, transferred from torch to lurch, will be borne by 31 (JO runners through Grcen.ee, Bulgaria,. Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Germany. A further relay will carry a flare- bum the Olympic beaten at Berlin to that at Kiel, where the yachting races are to he held. The last runner is expected to reach Kill on August 3 at 8.30 p.m. The torches, donated to the Olympic authorities by the makers, the Biied’ieh Knapp Co. Essen,, will remain the property of the runners who carry them. They have been designed by a well-known, sculptor. Walter Lcmeke, and bear on the handle the emblem of the Reich Eagle, the live Olympic- Rings, a map of) the route from Olympia to Berlin, and a shield inscribed ‘‘With thanks to the hearer’". Each torch will give a magnesium light for ten minutes, regard lets of wind and ran. So mill It at present, for the, most elaborate relay run ever contemplated.