SHAMATEURISM IN SPORT

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 12

SHAMATEURISM IN SPORT

MONEY PAID “UNDER THE ROSE” OUT-OF-DATE SYSTEM CAUSES TROUBLE ATHLETES AND DINNER SUITS In commenting on the fact that members of the British Empire Games team were required to take their dinner suits along with them to Australia, an English writer, Clifford Webb, has some interesting comment to make on the question of amateurism in sport. He makes several helpful suggestions and will find a good deal of support in New Zealand and abroad for his contention that the time has arrived for a broade., more sensible definition >.f an amateur. British athletes who could not make the trip to the Empire Games at least had the satisfaction of knowing that those who represented their country did not let Great Britain down —socially, states the writer. Dinner jacket suits were a necessary part of their equipment. Funny how it works out. I never dreamed there was any connection between a boiled shirt and “evens” over 100 yards. I don’t know if the South African contingent had taken their tuxedos. But even if they hadn’t they probably felt more comfortable than some of our boys. At least they were provided with a small amount of pocket money daily. Sweet music in the jingle of rattling coins, especially in a strange land. Surely that is the only sensible way to send athletes abroad? Every section of so-called amateur sport appears to be getting the “broken time” itch. It has got to come, otherwise international sport will grow into a colossal racket, something like boxing has become in the States. “Nasty Little Wanglings.” It is really amazing how sport authorities prefer to allow nasty, mean little “wanglings” with expenses to go on unchecked, rather than have the whole thing honest, open and above board. I believe the Amateur Swimming Association is getting a trifle worried over persistent attempts by exhibition swimmers to “cash in" through the medium of expenses. There have been vague whisperings of a “clean-up." It is all so trivial and narrow-minded. It is only the continued operation of an out-of-date system that makes athletes in all branches of sport stoop to petty acts which they would never dream of committing if their interests were properly studied. The time has arrived for a broader, more sensible definition of an amateur --one that will cover all sports and be accepted by all ruling bodies of sport. I would suggest this: “An amateur is one who does not obtain his living solely by his sporting activities." You’ve got to agree that this would cover a multitude of opportunities for stars to recoup themselves in the event of actual loss, and for those who are good enough to help swell the funds of their respective associations through exhibitions of their prowess to receive some small reward. I was talking to a professional footballer recently about the loose talk that is floating around Soccer circles in regard to illegal payments, commonly referred to as “under the table money." Which is Worse? He said to me, quite frankly, “None of it has come my way yet. If it did, and I accepted it, 1 should l'eel I wasn’t haif as bad as the amateur who accepts money and remains an amateur in the eyes of everybody." Professional footballers, with their frail security, their ever-present problem of what is to happen when they have finished their playing days and the permanent injury fear always just under the surface, are inclined to be very bitter about “shamateurism, • I think they are justified. The National Cyclists’ Union are, at the moment engaged in a frantic effort to prevent the International Union from withdrawing from all future Olympics, unless “broken time" payments are permitted. That is a pity. They should allow the resolution to go through, and support it as strongly as possible.

The N.C.U. are entirely wrong in supposing that banishment from the Olympics will harm cycling as a sport. Cycling is big enough, and popular enough, to stand on its own feet—or roll on its own wheels, if you like. But that apart, it needs a determined stand by one big sporting authority to bring this thing to a head. The people who run the Olympics are not so foolish as to be hoodwinked into believing that cycling doesn’t matter. They know that cycling from the spectacular point of view, is always one of the most popular features with the cash customers—and it is the cash customers who must be considered, even in the Olympics. You could have 10,000 Apollo-like young men carrying torches from Timbuktu, but that still wouldn’t prevent thT Olympics from collapsing in the most hollow fashion if there were no spectators. It is obvious that most of the countries where cycling is practised as a sport feel that “broken time” payments are essential. That being so, they should not allow themselves to be swayed from their purpose. I hope the N.C.U. effort to prevent the resolution from going through will meet with overpowering opposition. There was never a time in sport when there was greater need for some bold, straight talking on this question of “broken time."