RUSSIA’S PROGRESS IN VARIOUS SPORTS

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1934, Page 11

RUSSIA’S PROGRESS IN VARIOUS SPORTS

Success At International Workers Games

So little has been seen of Russian athletes in international competitions that their performances in the International Workers Games held in Paris recently have special interest. Twentytwo countries sent representatives to this meeting, which included all the popular sports, and, as was expected, the Russians, because of the wide field of choice of competitors and the attention they now give to sport, did extremely well. Yet (comments an English paper) many people in England will be surprised to learn that Russia has a sprinter who returned 10 4-ssec for the 100 metres on a poor track; his time probably represented two yards inside “evens” on a good track. Russians also won 'the 400 metres and 5000 metres in times worthy of international matches. The Soviet almost “swept the board” in athletics, and showed «ven greater superiority in the football tournament, which she won with a total of 29 goals to none for the three matches played. Attendances up to 25,000 watched the games, which were held over a period of several days bn various grounds in the Paris district.

Russia remains shy of matching her sports strength against other countries, and it must be said that many other nations do not seem anxious to meet her; but though Russia’s participation in the Olympic Games may be a long way off, we may see a gradual improvement in her sports relations with other peoples. She has already, met Turkey at football on several occasions. Officials accompanying the Russian competitors in Paris seemed to be well acquainted with'the leading sports personalities and performances outside their country. One of them threw an interesting sidelight on the post-war growth of lawn tennis in Russia; he said that whereas there were three courts in the Moscow region before the war, there are now 600. The football officials professed no concern, but much amusement, when the possibility was mentioned of European professional clubs inducing some of the players to join them. “They would not dream of leaving Russia,” they said.