The Hawera Star. FRIDAY, JULY 11, 1924. CLEAN SPORTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 July 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

FRIDAY, JULY 11, 1924. CLEAN SPORTS.

Delivered e»dry evening t>y B o’clock in Hawera, Manaia, Nennanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatcki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunoke, Otakena Manutahi, Alton, Durleyville, Fated, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohanga,, Meremere. Fraser Road, and

Throughout the world interest is being taken in the Olympic Games, which are being held in Fiance at the present time. Tens of thousands of spectators are attending to see the various events, and the representatives of the various countries do not lack encouragement from their numerous supporters, and as the cable messages have told us the noise has been indescribable when world's records have been broken. The word Olympic recalls the fact that the great contests are of very ancient origin. To the plain of Olympia in the early days of Greece great importance was attached. The ancient temples, the sacred grove, the stadium, the wall and great gates, and the hippodrome have all been referred to frequently in historical writings. The stadium, which was about 210 yards long, was used chiefly for foot races,

while the hippodrome wir- i.sed for chaiiot races and lior.se races. The Olympian Games wore held every lour years and lasted lor five days, during which offerings were made to the god Zeus and the contests were decided. The original contests were simple running matches, there being some uncertainty as to when they 'acre first held, but probably about 776 B.C. .About 724 B.C. the double course was introduced, in which runners had to make a circuit of the goal and return to the starting point. in 708 B.C. the pentathlon (the word appeared in a cable message on Tuesday) was introduced—a fivefold contest, consisting' of leaping, running, throwing the Quoit, wrestling and throwing the javelin. Wrestlin'g and boxing were later combined in the pankration. In 680 B.C. chariot racing was introduced at the hippodrome. Great crowds assembled at the contests and showered their favours upon the successful contestants. The contests of the ancient Greeks and Romans were, however, of a far different nature from those in which the world is interested now. Sporting ideals have changed as civilisation has advanced, and some of the old Greek and Roman sports would not be tolerated nowadays. British people are very keen followers of sports, but if they find anything of the nature of cruelty to man or beast in a contest they quickly indicate their displeasure. The recent protest against the rodeo contests is a proof of the British hatred of cruelty, while the uproar following the disqualification of an Australian at the Olympic Games shows that -spectators will not tolerate anything which they regard as an injustice. The Olympic Games bring contestants and spectators together from all parts of the world, and it is reasonable to think that such gatherings lead to a better understanding among the various* nations. Clean sport- holds a very important place in the life of a nation, and though it may be argupd that too much time is given to it, one cannot overlook the fact that much good can be traced to games and friendly rivalry among those who take part in them. A sport that is not properly managed and is not entered into in a manly spirit soon loses favour with its followers, find when that happens it declines, and finally ceases to secure sufficient support to enable it to continue. Whatever the sport, be it football or boxing, tennis or hockey, the public expect those who participate in it to play the game in the right, spirit and have a proper regard for opponents as well as friends and supporters. In New Zealand the people are very keen followers of sports, but they insist upon players at all times playing their games in the right spirt and displaying those qualities which are associated with true sportsmanship.