Racism at the Games

The victories of the Negroes of the American Olympic team are the sensation of Europe. how thoroughly the Olympic spirit has spread here is seen in the fact that to date only the Nazi newspaper Angriff has spoken of them dispairingly, and only in the government box has there been other presumptive evidence of racial feeling.

of course, carious countries react in various ways. The French are loudly enthusiastic about the Negroes' accomplishments. The English, guided perhaps by imperial considerations, are somewhat cool and inclined to depreciate their presence. The South Africans openly deprecate it.

On the other hand, the German team is ostensibly friendly. Something like a Damon and Pythias friendship has sprung up between Lutz Long, German star and Jesse Owens, outstanding member of the American team.
What may be called the social success of the American Negroes largely is due to the their own tact. They are perfectly aware threre is a race prejudice in the air and they carefully avoid places where they might not be welcome.

It should be added, however, that since his defeat by John Woodruff, Mario Lanzi, sensational Italian middle distance runner, has introduced some racial feeling in the Italian team. Lanzi's final spurt in the 800-meter race two days ago was spoiled because the two Negro leaders, Phil Edwards of Canada and Woodruff, refused to yield him the inside lane. The Italian seems to be possessed by the idea he had a right to this lane, although there is nothing in the rules entitling him to it.

Enthusiasm for the Negro contingent centers mainly around Owens. None of the others enjoys anything approaching his popularity. The German press calls Owens the super-athlete of these Games. Long has expressed the view that with more training Owens could jump 7.5 meters easily.

In private conversation the Germans tell each other that the Negro race is extraordinarily adept at running because of a certain peculiar conformation of their bones. They do, however, have the good sense to scoff at English reports that American runners have undergone certain operations on their legs to increase their speed

Salvation Army in Berlin

The Salvation Army is not missing the opportunity to put on a campaign in Berlin. They are making a drive for funds from charitable Germans and foreign guests alike.

The Olympics are international and so is the Salvation Army. Germany is at least internationally minded until August 16th.

Eleanor Holm Jarrett isn't competing in Berlin?

Eleanor Holm Jarrett went for a sight-seeing stroll with a friend, met onetime Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor August Ernst at Netherlands Palace. Swimmer Jarrett reported that the onetime Crown Prince had sent her flowers. In New York, her husband, Crooner Art Jarrett, suddenly took ship for Germany.

The American Public and many sports fans worldwide would expect Mrs. Jarrett to be in the Swimming Pool competing in the backstroke. She was suspended from the American team for setting a bad example in getting intoxicated while on the transatlantic voyage to Europe.

Mrs. Jarrett has said of her suspension, which came as a surprise to the Champion of the 1932 Los Angeles Games, this:

This chaperone came up to me and told me it was time to go to bed. God, it was about 9 o'clock, and who wanted to go down in that basement to sleep anyway? So I said to her: `Oh, is it really bedtime? Did you make the Olympic team or did I?' I had had a few glasses of Champagne. So she went to Brundage and complained that I was setting a bad example for the team, and they got together and told me the next morning that I was fired. I was heartbroken.

Avery Brundage, the Team Leader, has not commented on this. Holm's Olympic teammates petitioned unsuccessfully to overturn the suspension.