MAY BE BARRED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21784, 25 October 1932, Page 6

MAY BE BARRED

WOMEN At OLYMPIC GA^ES A HEAVY STRAIN. V * r' (From Our Own CpmespokdbntO .. SYDNEY, October W. The important question, whether women should be debarred from competing in future Olympic Games has been raised during his' visit to Sydney:by Count Baillet-Latour, president of' the International Olympic Committee.' He has come to test Australian opinion, and he will find this very divided.' In fact, the issue is one that will probably divide the world, and the women may be forced to organise their own games. At a reception in his, honour, given by the New South Wales Qlympie. Council Count Baillet-Latour said: The question of the participation of women in strenuous sport has always been a sore one, and. I might mention that, in the Grecian days,-.women were, placed on the same footing as, slaves.- They i wers allowed to compete in athletics for the first time in. 1928 and then the < matter . was to be, finally decided at a meeting of the Olympic Committee at Barcelona. Unfortunately the Spanish resolution was on and the conference was .far from being representative. - The supporters of the women carried the day by one vote. The matter was not been settled yet You are going to hear; ■ lot more about it, and I am here to sound the feeling of Australia. lam absolutely in favour of women taking part in all forms of'sport that are suitable to their sex, and do not interfere with their health, but I am absolutely against women taking part, in strenuous events. I sought the opinions of eminent medical men. They are the only ones who can judge on the question of • woman's physique. Their counsels were against it and I will remain against it If women wish to have their games, now that sport has developed so tremendously, it would be better if they had their own meeting, apart from ths Olympic Games. ; '" I don't, agree with him at all," was the comment of Miss Clare Dennis, the young Australian girl who won the .800 metres breaststroke at the Los. Angeles Games. " I think that ■ sport improves a woman's health, and I' can say that swimming, at least, has never done me any harm. Apart from the swimbers, the women at the Games, all looked big, healthy and muscular. I certainly think that women athletes should be allowed to compete at the Games. They did well last time, didn't they ?" , "I disagree with the Count most env ; phatically," said Miss E. Malard,, secretary of the City, Girls'. Sports, Association. "He is talking contrary .to what we are practising, and we find that sport gives girls health and strength. Since taking part in outdoor sports,.girls are more physically fit than ever, before, and it is safe to say that we are keeping the hospital inmates, down by giving the girls plenty of sport." ...