TO BUILD UP AN A1 NATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18091, 26 February 1927, Page 24

TO BUILD UP AN A 1 NATION.

ORGANISED, ATHLETIC SPORTS HAVE PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON MENTAL AS WELL AS PHYSICAL HEALTH.

DEFENDING the Olympic, movement at the dinner of the British Olympic Association recently, Lord Birkenhead said of the Olympic Games: — “ Did they do «;cod? If Ihey promoted that spirit among’ all the nations of the world which in the first place led to the encouragement of sport as we in this country understood the word; if they stimulated endurance, courage, and the high spirits of youth; if they could marshal the rivalries of nations in a pacific field instead of encouraging - that of evil and the miasma of war, then their object was worthy of their utmost endeavours.?’ -What is true of Olympic Games in their bearing upon inlcrnatiopal relations is even more true of the influence which properly organised athletic sport can be designed to exercise upon the mental, as well as the physical, health of the nation (writes Charles Otway, of “ London - Sporting Lifc”)%

On a Common Level. * As a factor in education, in teaching self-control, in encouraging the team spirit, and building good citizenship, sport, especially amateur sport, is allpowerful. In its pursuit all classes may meet on a common level and the best man win. The humanising influence of sport was appreciated to the highest extent during the war. I have seen weary, sad-eyed men back from the trenches beconle, after a few days at a recreational centre, bright and cheerful, ready and fit for anything. What recreational training did for the British Armies on the Western front it can do for our citizen armies. The growth of athletic recreation since the war has been wonderful. You can see the result everywhere, and yet it is undeniable that some who witnessed its development during the war have, at times, been disappointed that it has not attained even greater dimensions. But those who understand appreciate that the principal obstacle is lack of opportunity. A Striking Instance. Fortunately there is a growing knowledge that the development of satellite suburbs, around our great towns must not be allowed to do away entirely with the opportunities for recreation. Town planning schemes are being drawn up in all parts of the country, and the preservation of existing amenities and provision of further facilities accompany them. Then there is the National Playing Fields Association, which within the short period of twelve months has extended its influence far and wide. The latest gain to athletic sport, the acquisition of a considerable portion of Charlton Park as an open space, to be equipped with football, hockey, cricket, and lawn tennis grounds, is a striking instance. Marked down as an eligible building site early in 1924, the intervention of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association drew the attention of the Greenwich Borough Council to the impending loss of a much-needed lung. Next the L.C.C. decided a town planning scheme should be prepared, but meanwhile the Greenwich Council had declared its intention of purchasing the park for various municipal purposes and a housing estate. Negotiations were entered into, the L.C.C. urging that as much as possible of the estate should be reserved as an open space, and now the L.C.C. has arranged to purchase 46 acres, and to lay out a considerable proportion as playing fields. There may be a cinder track, but the question of laying one has been deferred. Inquiry was made whether the National Playing Fields Association would contribute to the cost, and the answer, while in the negative, so far as the present time is concerned, opened up possibilities on behalf of the London and Greater London branch of that body. Whether a. track is really necessary at Charlton Park is a matter which will doubtless receive consideration in due

course. Tt is not very far from the firstclass track at the Woolwich Stadium. The essentials of the case are, however, that the N.P.F.A. is already "in a position to exercise considerable influence when town planning schemes arc under consideration, and is steadily gaining i\ position which may enable it to do as valuable work in assuming the provision of playing fields as the Commons Preservation Society has in keeping our common lands open to the common people. It has now twenty-eight county branches in England, and two more are on the tapis, the Duke of Northumberland having promised to preside at a meeting to form a branch for that countv, which will be held at Newcastle on January IS, while three days later that notable sportsman. Lord Durham, will take the chair at a meeting to form a Durham branch. Others will follow in regular order, and before long every English county will be joined up bv a county branch to the N.P.F.A, An eminently successful conference of county chairmen and secretaries has recently been held. Experiences were recounted and ideas' pooled, and the result is bound to have a good effect upon general policy. Following the conference a dinner was held at the invitation of Sir Arthur Crosfield (chairman), Sir Thomas Inskip (vice-chair-man), and Sir Howard Frank (chairman of the Finance Committee), and amongst the guests were: Colonel Clive Wj'-gram, Captain Basil Brooke, Sir E. B. Phipps (Board of Education), and Mr J. G. Gibbon (Ministry of Health). Opportunity was taken to review the progress of the association, and the excellent team work being accomplished by the county branches. The immediate success of these is undoubtedly due in a great measure to the absence of any intention to derogate from the authority of any existing sporting association or committee, the functions of the branches being purely advisory. But their advice has great weight with the powers that be, and sports associations will find the N.P.F.A. branches of immense value in assisting them to find opportunities for the active followers of sport. The Amateur Spirit. We are really at the beginning of a movement, the end of which must be to produce an A 1 nation. Given better facilities the lad will be drawn away from the streets and enticed into health-giving games, lie will learn discipline, not by attempting to drive it home by physical force, but by associationship, in team games, with those who have learried it. The absence of “gate” as a factor in games played, and races run on public grounds will lead to a better appreciation of the amateur spirit, a feeling that the honour of winning is better than the prize. And if these, when they come to be men, take with them into their business or profession, especially perhaps their politics, the spirit of fairplay they have learned on the playing field, it will be the creation of a new and better ideal of citizenship.