THE OLMYPIAN GAMES AT PARIS IN 1900.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 478, 21 September 1899, Page 7

THE OLMYPIAN GAMES AT PARIS IN 1900.

The wonderful interest manifested in England over the International athletic meeting between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge on the one hand and Harvard and Yale on the other makes one think of the possibilities and probabilities of the far more important and comprehensive International contests to take place in Paris (and also in England) in 1900 (says the Sunday Times.)

Before touching upon the coming Olympian Games, a few words about the late struggle at at the Queen’s Grounds, West Kensington, London, will not be out of place. Papers by the last mail contain graphic details of the exciting scenes witnessed when the rival Universities were fighting for supremacy at athletic games. The attendance included the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, and a large percentage of the rank and fashion of England, and extraordinary excitement was evidenced as the contest progressed, tremendous applause greeting the announcement of the final victory of Oxford and Cambridge. For weeks before, and for days afterwards, the papers were full of the doings and

sayings of the English a d American athletes, and there can be no doubt that, as in the case of the Test matches at cricket between England and Australia, all the English-speaking world was interested.

After the contest the Earl of Jersey presided at a banquet to the teams. At this the American Ambassador in London, Mr Choate, made what is described by the Press as an important speeeh. One writer says : — “ Mr Choate happily proposed ‘ International Sport,’ in terms at once eulogistic and humorous. He spoke of the. love of sport inherent in both England and America, and dwelt on the good that these meetings did to promote the best possible understanding between the two great nations. He was speaking to a body of young men in whose hands the guidance of their country’s destinies might one day be placed, and he was sure that their athletic education, and the memories of such meetings as that in which they had that day engaged, would in no way militate against successful solution of any questions that might arise between the two great nations.”

* With this we heartily agree (continues the Sunday Times writer). And if so much importance was attributed to this meeting, what may be anticipated of the Olympian Games in Paris and the English championships in London next year? Preparations on the most elaborate scale are now going on, so that the world’s most famous athletes may meet at the gatherings in question.

From the United States will sally forth, it is said, almost an army of representative athletes, several of the Universities despatching tea.ms, whilst the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, and also some of its largest affiliated clubs, will have contingents in the arena. Australasia, it is predicted, and confidently expected, will be represented, too. And assuredly it should be, for in any competition for the world’s supremacy at sport, it is only fit and proper that Australia and New Zealand should take the field. A few earnest workers are doing all they can in Sydney and Melbourne (and also in New Zealand) to further the prospect of despatching an Australasian team, but so far lack of funds hampers the movement. We believe that the importance of being represented in Paris and London next year has only to be thoroughly understood in the colonies for the monetary troubles to vanish as thin air. Anyway, the Sunday Times says it believes so, and the Referee is of the same way of thinking. 1