The Olympic Games and the Duke of Westminster's Appeal

'l'HE OLYMPIC GkMES. 15 " Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who has given much time and work to the forming of the new organization , will serve upon it for at least a year. " One other member will shortly be nomi- nated.* " It is now necessary to defin e the functions of the ' Special Committee for the Olympic Games of Berlin.' The chief function is that tbey shall be trustees of the public fund , tbat no portion of that fund can be spent without t heir assent, and no measure involvii~ an expenditure from the public fund can be adopted except upon their recommendation. " Each branch of sport in this country is self-governing. Each makes its own arrange– ments for the Olympic contests. But, where in those arrangements extra money is needed, it has to come to the British Olympic Council for the means to carry out its scheme, and the British Olympic Council must refer the applica– tion to the ' Special Comrµittee,' without whose consent no grant can be made. Thus the Committee has a practical veto upon every– thing that is done, and the public ha.s a guarantee that whatever sum it may subscribe will be expended to the utmost advantage. In due course an official statement and general scheme of procedure will be published, and a national appeal for funds will be made. The sum thus subscribed will be lodged with the ' Special Committee for the Olympic Games of Berlin,' and the administration of it ,vill. be on lines which will be more clearly indicated at a later stage. " Besides the support of each separate branch of sport, the general arrangements proposed by the Council for the British competitors will require to be submitted to and approved by the Committee before funds to carry them out can be allocated. " The Council of the British Olympic Associa– tion feel strongly that apart from the exertions necessary to make a creditable appearance at the Borlin Games, it is also essential to .keep in view the general question of national hygiene and physical development. They aim at con– cei.'tetl action to _promote and encourage all measures which me.y tend to a higher standard of individual national efficiency. " The Council would deprecate the idea that the expenditure of this furid could, iri any way, infringe the purity of amateur .sport. Tlie iiaines bf tlie Committee ih tpeuiselves ma.Jee e\icli a suggestion ridiculo11e. But it is essential that so far as professini)al advice and material appliances go, our representatives slioula be on eitual terms with their competitors. 11 Iii America, Germany, Sweden, and France v~ry cqneidei'able pre~i'atioiis l!,re already ..~oot. Every effort will be made in those *Sir Claude MacDonald, 0.0.llf.0., WIIS S\lbeeqUent)y added as the tulditionnl member. countries to bring their men upon the .ground with every legitimate advantage. It is necessary that we should do the same, and it is only to be done by having adequate practice grounds and proper preliminary training and competi– tions. Money will be needed for this, and the Qouncil are confident that, when the appeal is i sued, the public will show that they are ready to give generous support to their team. " The ' Special Committee ' will shortly begin its labours n.nd will communicate its general plans and prospects from time to time through the Press." THE COMllllTTEE AND THE B.O.C. It will be noticed that it is said in the above that to adjust the respective functions of this ne\v Committee and the British Olympic Council was "a work of some delicacy." Correspondence in the Press, indeed, showed that these " respective functions " were not clearly understood ; so, to clear up the misunderstanding, Mr. Studd, the chairman, issued the following letter, published in '1.'lie Times of April 17, 1913 :- " i\Iay I endeavour to remove the misapprehension that seems to exist os to the functions of the new Committee for the Olympic Games, 1916? It is not a new governing body for all sport, but a Finance Committee, whose duty will be to give effect, so far as fw1ds permit, to the most hopeful schemes and plans which the governing associations of the various sports are able to devise. The Committee is in no way intended to supersede the British Olympic Council or the governing bodies of the various sports. " The first action of the new Committee has been to request the secretary of the British Olympic CouncII to obtain from each sports governing body what they consider an ideal scheme for their sport, especially with regard to the discovery of new talent and the training and preparation of athletes, with a view to the best representation of Great Britain at the Games of 1916. They have also asked that the approximate cost estimated t-0 be necessary by the governing associations should be stated, Ee.eh scheme submitted will be carefullY. considered by the Committee, and, if approved, will, so far as funds permit, be supported. In addition to the carrying out of these schemes, funds will be required for the transport to and accommodation at Berlin of the teams finally selected to represent Great Britain in the Olympic Games of 1916. The Committee will be the trustees of the fund subscribed by the public and will be responsible for its administration. "The schemes as !;hey are approved will be com– municated to the Press. They will then ee open to criticism, and can be modified or extended as circumstances may require and. funds permit." THE QUESTION OF FUlms. When Mr. Studd accepted the chairmanship of the Special Committee, it was on the uhdel'Btand– ing that he, or the Committee as a whole, would not be burdened with the actual solicitation and collection. of the required fund. Its biisilieee was t.o obtain, canvass, and approve the schemes for organization in each sport as suggested by the governing body or other representatives o~ such sport ; t.o see that, with all these several schemes as a basis, there was f<lrmed a. hariiibnilhls .