File:Far Eastern Athletics a New Oriental Menace in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on 25 March 1923.jpg

Far Eastern Athletics a New Oriental Menace. (By the Associated Press) A new "Oriental menace" la racing the Western world. Far from hav. Ing any warlike significance, how ever, the (cause of "apprehension' this time is based upon m growing: development of athletic prowess In the Far East, which threatens to challenge the supremacy of Amer iran and European stars in various Branches of sport. Comparatively little Is realized In i ins country 01 the tremendous for ward strides which athletics have taken in tnc past decade in the Orient, especially In China. Japan and the Philippines, our Island possession. These three nations, bunded .together in the Far Eastern Athletic Asrociatton, the major Oriental eport Koverning ooay, nave micen the in itiative in putting recreational actlv Hies on their present high plane. as tne result or the progress maae, ine rest or tne athletic world Is beginning to focus it attention on this Far Eastern development, Klght now particular interest is being manifested In the 1928 Far Eastern games, a biennial affair modeled along Olympic lines. The meet this year Is the sixth since 1913 and will he held in Osaka, Japan, beginning may 21. it promises to witness caliber of performance compurlng iavoramy wttn tne best in this country and Europe, and in the Far East it is looked upon as a prelimlnvry step toward real representation frevi that part of the world in the Paris Olympics of 1924. Conditions peculiar to the Orient undoubtedly will preclude the pessi- miiiy or Far Eastern peoples com peting generally on an even tooting wun ineir Caucasian rivals, nut nign class talent in many branches of ac ttvlty is being produced as a result of systematic training and encouragement. As an example, the list of track and field stars, according to latest reports. Includes several 10 second sprinters, while unusual pro ... ficiency Is being developed in Mich sports as swimming, tennis and boic- ; in. Proof of the Invasion of Western standards also is shown in the program for the Far Eastern meet, which will include competition In volleyball, basketball, Rugby football and baseball. Women, too, are following the leadership of their Amer- ' ican and European sisters in taking a more active part In athletics. Tennis and swimming events for feminine participants form a part of the international program. ; American leadership and principles have been largely resonslble for the athletic awakening in the Far East. Interest first was stimulated in the Philippines, where natives proved eager and apt pupils, and has Spread throughout the Orient. One of the outstanding figures in this development was Elwood S. Brown of New York, new executive officer of the newly launched National Amateur Athletic Federation, who for years stimulated athletic ac- . t.ivity in the Far East as a Y. M. C..A. , worker. With others We was Instrumental In staging the first Far Eastern games In k1913. at Manila, and bringing China, and later Japan, into the Far Eastern Athletic Association. Slam and Malaya also were induced to become members of this association, but the outbreak of the World War forced both to withdraw from active participation. "Reports I have received from the Far East Indicate that this year's games will be the most successful r rver held," Mr. Brown declared In fllscussing the athletic situation In the Orient. "China, Japan and the J Philippines all promise to have t Ftrong teams in the field. Keen rivalry exists among thee nations, and they are anxious to develop tal- j cut which will be worth sending to the Olympics at Paris. "The city of Osaka is building a ' hfr concrete stadium for the events and expects to handle average daily crowds of 20,000."

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