The Olympic Games and the Duke of Westminster's Appeal

THE OLYMPIC GAMES. 43 subject was discussed at some length. The Report of the meeting in The Times of August 2 says :- Most interesting of all, perhaps, was the strength of the sentiment displayed in favour of uniting the Empire in the eyes of the world through representa– tion by one common team. 'l'he significance of the discussion of this point was increased by the presence of l\'.lr. ,J. G. l\Ierrick, on behnlf of Canada. who testified to the willingness of the great self-governing Dominions to sink their individunlity if thereby they would contribute to the Empire's ~enefit, and from him it was learned tlmt the suggestion had been favourably discussed a year before the Stockholm meeting by the Olympic representatives of both Canada and Australasia, and that the chief difficulty was with Great Britain. The Canadian competitors at Stockholm, it appears, came to Engla.nd in the belief that the athletes rflpresenting all parts of the Empire were to meet and train together in London with a view to mutual cooperation and encourage– m eet at the Games, and wer J deeply disappointed that nothing to that end was clone, though by whose fault it was that it failed to be done did not appear. The tone of the meeting throughout was strongly in sympathy with all that has been said in the many articles in The Times upon the subjtct and with the sugg.1estions put forward in these columns by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, from whom a Jetter was read embodying his views. In the course of his remarks, Mr. J. G. Merrick ·(President of the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada) was reported as saying that there were two difficulties in the way of an Empire com– bination :- One was whether the sentiment of the Colonies would be favourable to having their identity oom· pletely extinguished in the general Empire ~ His opinion was that they would gladly do eo if ~ felt assured that the combination would redOUDd to the credit of the Empire. A more serious difflcult7 was the Cont,inental acceptance of that point of view, particularly by the smaller countries. He wu of tbe opinion that insuperable d.iffic~ties would be plaoed in the way of such a combmat1on, but there could be no 'obstacles t o t he team training and traveUmg together. If they could, in the 1916 Ga.mes, bring their forces together and have e. cooperation on the field and the track, they would achieve the material parts of the Empire combination. He would do ma . best to forwru d that in Canada, and be knew the same sentiment prevailed in Australia. and the Ca~. The :ihief difficulty up to the present bad been with Great Britain, and it rested with the athletic authoritiee here to take the lead. · The difficulties in the way of the suggestion may be said to be three :- (1) There is needed the assured desire for union on the part of all the Dominions. (2) There might be difficulties of adjustment in cases where the entries from one " nationality " were limited, as in the case of a single rifle t:eam in the shooting or of two boats in the eight-oared race. (3) It is very doubtful whether the International Olympic Council would consent to the amalgama– tion of the Dominions with the Mother Country after the fotmer have been granted standing as " nationalities " at their own request. As an index to Aust,ralian opinion, the following >~~-....- ................................._....................._.................._....................................................................__......_.._.........................................,.... ' I ; ' ) ' ' l ! ? ! ! ; ) 1 ? i I l I I THE OLYMPIC GAMES FUND The Duke of Westminster's Olympic Fund is the central fund to which subscriptions should be sent. Letten containing cheques, postal orders, or stamps should be addressed to the Duke of Westminster, at Grosvenor House, London, W. Cheque! and envelopes should be marked " 01 rmpic_Eimd" L.subsaiptions-will-be.i·clarowlecljed. by the Duke and forwarded to the-Hon~Treasureroft e peciiirCommittee,' Mr. E. Mackay-Edgar, Basildon House, Moorgate Street, London, E.C. Donors may " earmark" their contributions to be devoted to any particular sport in which they may be interested. The form herewith may be cut out and used if desired. OLYMPIC GAMES. To His Grace Iii, Duke of Weslmimter, Growe11or House, Lomron, W. My Lord Duke, I liaf/e m11cli pleas11re in enclosing a tlcnatio11 of £ .. . •..• , ...• • •.. .. . , to Ille ol,(lf)e F111ul. Yours faill1f11lly, Name• •• •••••••• •• ••••••••• ,, ...• , •.•• , .• •••• ,, •••• ••••• •• ,, •• , •••••••••••••• Add,ess •••.••••.••• ••. ••• .• •••••••.•• •. ••, ..• •• •• •• •••• , ••••• •• •• ••••• ,,, •••• ··· ··· ·· ···· ·· ·· ········ ···· ······ ····················