The Cruise of the Branwen

THE OLYMPIC GAMES subject of this little book was called "The Olympic Games at Athens." They were by far the most successful meeting of the kind ever held up to that time, and, owing to the official support given them by their royal family and by their Government, they take a very special place in the history of international sport, as is only right in the case of the nation which first showed the world the civilising effect of physical competition so many centuries ago. In consequence of the specially national and official aspects given to the GreekGames, which are also largely assisted by the permanent arena in Athens, the meeting of 1906 will be repeated at Athens in 1910, 1914, and so forth, and no one who cares either for international sport or for the deathless traditions of Athenian history will be disposed to refuse the modern Greeks their right to a local cycle of their own, which is sure to benefit by the code of international rules and arrangements now drawn up in London. Still it must not be confused with the original and what may be called the official cycle, of which the Olympic Games in London this summer are a part; and it may without discourtesy be suggested that, until railway communication becomes better developed, some difficulty will be experienced by other countries in sending athletes to Greece so soon after the official quadrennial Games have been celebrated in the various great cities of Europe ; for it means that almost directly after the Games of 1908 are over in London the English Committee will have to begin thinking about sending over athletes to Greece in 1910. 8