Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

CHAPTER XXV THE MANAGEMENT OF AN ATHLETIC MEETING IN England much of the unpopularity of athletics before the war was due to the uninteresting way in which sports meetings were run, and the lack of initiative shown by the sports promoters. Owing to the absurdly inflated ideas which had, of lat_e years, arisen as to the value of the prizes which it is advisable to give, the sports promoters were faced with a problem of no small.odifficulty-they were, indeed, between Scylla and Charybdis. If, on the one hand, they elected to give only prizes of moderate value, the real cracks would not enter and the public would not attend the meeting; but if the committee decided to take the risk and spend a large amount of money on the purchase of prizes, paying some five or ten pounds for each first prize, and the . weather was unfavourable, then, unless their financial position was particularly strong, the club was faced with financial ruin. This is a matter which will doubtless right itself in course of time, but in the meantime the clubs will be well advised to spend only such money as their resources warrant, and perhaps the A.A.A. may legislate wisely in this matter. 229