Opis: International Olympic Games (Classic Reprint) - Expositions United States; Congress; Ho

Excerpt from International Olympic Games

It is estimated that last year 30,000,000 people attended ball games in this country alone. That shows the interest our country is taking.

From the time our youth start in the public schools - Rev. Mr. Moran will address you, showing the trend of public thought along the line of physical training in their schools - up to the time they go to college, the Young Men's Christian Associations and the Young Women's Christian Association gymnasiums, the athletic clubs, and other similar institutions accentuate the interest taken generally in amateur athletic sports. This tendency is so great that I think the time will come when that influence is bound to have national recognition, just as it has local recognition, through municipal playgrounds, and so on. The tendency all along indicates that the time has come when we must have more attention paid to physical training; and that could not in any way be more emphasized, or have a greater impetus given to it, than by having these international games come to the United States in 1916. The reason why Cleveland was decided upon at the national convention of the Amateur Athletic Union, held in New York on November 5, was that we are located practically within one night's ride of half of the population of the United States, and we also are within 15 to 20 hours' ride of 50,000,000 people. The water sports in connection with these international Olympic games - yachting, motor boating, and so on - are a very important item. We have Lake Erie within 500 yards of our business section. We have two or three natural locations for amphitheaters which would be within 4 miles of our business center, with the best possible transportation facilities. Those are our natural and geographical advantages for the games.

Another feature that I think the committee should take into consideration is this - the matter of international pride. We are going to have competition in getting these games. As I understand, Germany, Italy, and Russia have applied. They have filed applications, together with that of the United States, for these games. I think it should be a matter of national pride to us to try to bring the games to this country, because the United States proved at the London games that we have the best athletes, as we have the best of everything when we come to compete with European powers in any way. The interest taken in this country would be such that at least 2,000,000 or 3,000,000 people would attend these games.

It may be asked "How will you house these people How will you take care of them" We have now in Cleveland a population of 600,000, but we are growing at the rate of 40,000 people a year; so that will give us 800,000 people at least in 1916. These sports would cover, undoubtedly, six weeks. There will be weeks set aside for the water sports - yachting, motor boating, and so on - and people from all over the country who are interested in those things would come for that one week. The next week would be set aside, say, for automobiling, motor cycling, and aviation. That would attract an entirely different class of enthusiasts. In that way, in every week there would be a different line of competition on the program, which would give practically a floating attendance. So that in that way the problem of taking care of the people in Cleveland would be obviated in a way that would not be possible if all of the competitions had to be crowded into a single week.

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Szczegóły: International Olympic Games (Classic Reprint) - Expositions United States; Congress; Ho

Nazwa: International Olympic Games (Classic Reprint)
Autor: Expositions United States; Congress; Ho
Wydawnictwo: FB &c Ltd
Kod paskowy: 9781330193600
Języki: angielski
Ilość stron: 38
Format: 15.2x22.9cm
Oprawa: Miękka

Recenzje: International Olympic Games (Classic Reprint) - Expositions United States; Congress; Ho