ATHLETICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 439, 3 December 1930, Page 4

ATHLETICS

-(Bn

"TWO-TWENTY.")

In taking a firm stand that every athlete shall be registered, the Wan-ganui-Taranaki Centre is carrying out its duty. Several of the clubs have insisted that all their members be registered. It is a move that all should follow. The rules of the New Zealand Association state that every competitor in an open contest held under the jurisdiction of the Association shall be registered. One shilling of the registration fee goes to the national Overseas Representative Fund, which is drawn on for tours. Now that the Wanganui-Taranaki Centre has it in mind that it may be possible to get Don Evans away to the English championships, it is only fair that the Centre should carry out its obligation in seeing that all competitors are registered. The Centre may be asking that some of that fund be used for Evans’ trip. The numbers make for better meetings in more than one way. It is better for the judges, and it is better for the onlookers. The onus is on the competit-or to see that he is registered. If he is not registered, but competes, then he is liable to disqualification, and to the forfeit of any prize that he might win. The competitors themselves should see that they are registered. The club secretaries will be handling the matter.

How many meetings on Cook’s Gardens have commenced at 5.30 p.m. — sharp —as advertised? Last Thursday was a case in point. The air was decidedly cool, some even called it cohl. Yet there were men stripped, ready to get down on their marks, and waiting in the keen breeze for those inconsiderates who were entering for the race but were still in the shed. They should have been out. Admittedly the air was cold. An athletic meeting will not stand delay of that style. Cold or not, if a man means to run he must be out on time. There is no reason at all for the secretary to have to hunt up men in the shed? It is only a little thing, this punctuality, but its non-observ-ance will assuredly drive all public interest from the evening meetings. Athletics in this city is now on the upgrade, and every post should be made a winning post to sec tha‘ the love of athletics 1 i digs itself in” among the young men and girls, and the public in general. There is no room in athletic meetings for the saying, “It’s no use going along so early; it never starts until quarter of an hour late.” In some cases a man cannot be at the grounds at 5.30 because his job will not allow it. That is a reason for being late. There is no room for excuses. In common courtesy to others, and giving consideration to the officials, to fellow competitors, and to the public, all entrants should be out and ready to get down right on time. If the men are out and the officials are tardy then they should be told about it. At the present time all who compete at the Gardens should make a point of being there on time, and of turning out on time. It will help everybody concerned.

In the report last week of the dates allotted to the different clubs by the Centre, there was an error which was obvious to any who had read the notes. The date allocated to Taihape was stated to he March 28, when it should have read March 18. On that date the Americans will appear at a meeting run by the Taihape Club.

The Wanganui-Taranaki Centre has changed its meeting night to the last Tuesday in the mouth. With this night coming just before the meeting of the New Zealand Council, the business of the Centre will receive early consideration by the Council. The change of meeting night is certainly an improvement. Club secretaries, by the way, might note the date.

Next Saturday the Wellington Club will visit Wanganui to cross swords with the Wanganui Club for the Faulkner Cup. The meeting will be on Cook’s Gardens, and will start at 7.30 p.m. The events are handicapped, but the Wellington men will make some of those of the Wanganui clan think, by the look of the team that Wellington may send. The meeting will undoubtedly do a deal of good for athletics in Wangauui and it rests with every athlete in the city to play the part of publicity agent for the meeting and aee that all know of it, and further, that they will be coming along. The Wanganui Highland Pipe Band will be in attendance, and the Mayor will address the gathering. Given a fair night the meeting should be a distinct success.

Los Angeles wili be the location of the 1932 Olympic Games, and already America is on the job organising and preparing for the event. ii Olympic.” the official publication issued by the organising committee, which has been circulated to the ends of the earth, furnishes information regarding what has already been done. The games will be held from Saturday, July 30, to Sunday, August 14, inclusive, according to an announcement from the Organising Committee. These definite dates were announced following the return to Los Angeles of representatives of the committee, who attended the Olympic Congress in Berlin.

The programme will be continuous for sixteen days and nights and will include the following events:—Athletics, gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, weight-lifting, Association football, fencing, rowing, swimming, equestrian sports, modern pentathlon, road cycling, yachting, polo, field hockey, ■water polo, rifle and pistol shooting, Olympic fine arts. The Organising Committee’s report, given at the Berlin meeting of the International Olympic Committee, showed that nearly all facilities arc already completed for the celebration of the Games. In Olympic Park in Los Angeles are the Olympic Stadium, the fencing pavilion and the Olympic fine arts museum. The Olympic swimming stadium will be built there. Close by are fifteen training fields for visiting teams. These are all close to the proposed Olympic Village and the Olympic Park. Near Olympic Park is the Olympic Auditorium, where the boxing, wrestling and weight-lifting events will be held. Ample polo and equestrian fields are available, and the rowing course awaits only the final installations for crews and their equipment. The yachting course Las b en carefully mapped and the marathon and cycling courses already are arranged.