Source : Bibliothèque Du CIO / IOC Library but This Was Not Enough
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MODERN PENTATHLON. PREPARATORY WORK OF THE COMMITTEE. EFEE FENCING, MODERN PENTATHLON n the pr0p0Sai 0f jts President, the International ) < Olympic Committee decided that, in the programme : I I /"j ••••. \ \ j of the Fifth Olympiad which was to be held in 1 I I V I. /j i| Stockholm in 1912, there should be placed a new .> \\. yy competition — the Modern Pentathlon — comprising the 1.™ ."'.Jfollowing events: athletics, fencing, riding, swimming and shooting. This decision was received with the greatest interest by the Swed ish Olympic Committee which took its first steps for the organization of the competition, as early as the autumn of 1910. This was no easy matter, however, for there was nothing to go by as re gards the new event as there was in the case of the other com petitions. In determining the five branches of sport that were to make up the Modern Pentathlon, the Swedish Olympic Committee had the following points in view: the five events ought to be such as would test the endurance, resolution, presence of mind, intrepidity, agility and strength of those taking part in the competition, while, in drawing up the detailed programme, it was necessary to have all the events of equivalent value, in order to make the Modern Penta thlon a competition of really all-round importance. As regards the shooting, which, of course, was not any test of physical strength, it was necessary to demand a corresponding degree of skill in that branch, in order to make it equivalent to each of the other iour events. EPEE FENCING, MODERN PENTATHLON. WERSALL (Sweden) v. ASBRINK (Sweden); 640 Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library But this was not enough. It was also necessary to consider the reciprocal order in which the events should be placed, this being an Olympic competition, although the real value of the Modern Pen tathlon ought, of course, to consist in the fact, that a man who is really in perfect physical and psychical condition, and who is expert in the branches of sport in question, will always be able to satisfy these tests, irrespective of the order in which they come, so that, for example, he will be able to pass the shooting test perfectly well, •even if he has previously been swimming, riding across very rough country, taking part in a cross-country run, or, for a longer or shorter length of time, been engaged in meeting an opponent with the epee. Of course, the difficulty in executing the tests would be the same for all the competitors, so that, in this respect, the events could be placed in any order, but, on the other hand, there was the desire to obtain the best possible result that could be gained in each of the five events, so it was considered that the most suitable method to be adopted for the Olympic Games would be to place the events in a certain order, in accordance with the claim each made on the skill and endurance, etc., of the competitor. In consequence of the character of the Modern Pentathlon, the question may be asked whether, eventually, the competition should not be so arranged that the competitor is left in ignorance of the order EPEE FENCING, MODERN PENTATHLON. in which the five events are to be taken, and that the order is de DE MAS LATRIE (France) 2:nd Man—G. PATTON (U. S. A.), 4;th Man. termined by drawing lots. This arrangement, however, might have the result of unsteadying the competitors to some degree, and of making it a matter of exceeding difficulty for the Olympic Committee to organize the competition. The following brief account of the arrangements made for each of the various branches of the Modern Pentathlon at the Fifth Olympiad, in Stockholm, is given as some aid for future Olympic Games. Shooting. In the autumn of 1911, the Swedish Olympic Committee proposed that the shooting should be carried out with pistols (so-called "Duel- shooting") at a distance of 20 metres, at a disappearing target con sisting of a whole-figure, which was to be visible tor 3 seconds. Later on, however, the thought arose that it would be better to increase this, perhaps, too short, distance by 5 metres, so as to make the event more in accordance with the value of the competition, and so the distance of 25 metres was adopted. The target was to consist of standing whole-figure, 1.70 metres high, i. e., corresponding in length to a man of normal height; the .greatest breadth was 0.50 metre. In order to determine the respective value of the hits, the figure was to be divided into 10 zones, the bull's-eye to count 10. The figure was to be visible 3 seconds, with an interval of 10 seconds between each shot, this period being fixed so as to allow ample time for reloading, for such competitors as did EPEE FENCING, MODERN PENTATHLON. not use automatically loading pistols. AEJMELAENS (Russia)—MANNSTROM (Sweden). 41 Fifth Olympiad. 641 Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library As regards the weapon, it was not considered suitable to require the Riding. use of any fixed model, otherwise than that it had to he one intend ed to be held in one hand only, and any revolver or pistol could The determination of the rules for the riding was, probably, the be used provided that it had open fore- and back-sight. question involving the greatest difficulties. From the very first, how Regarding the number of shots, these were fixed at 20, which, ever, it was determined that the event should be an individual com were to be fired in 4 series of 5 shots each. With .respect to the- petition from point to point, over a fixed cross-country course with trial of the weapon it was determined that, before the shooting for obstacles, as the rider, as well as the horse, would thereby be best the event began, 2 sighters should be allowed at the ranges, under tested. The distance, it was considered, should lie within the limits similar conditions to those obtaining during the competition. 3,000^5,000 metres. In such a competition from point to point, with a number of obstacles at varying distances, too short a dis tance, however, would not be enough to fully test the skill of the rider, as, in such a case, it would not be necessary for him Swimming. to pay attention in so high, a degree to the endurance and power The first thing that had to be done in regard to this event was^ of his horse and, consequently, to husband these resources to the to determine the distance that would give a suitable test of strength utmost. and endurance. In general, it was considered that a length of 300- Another great reason for the non-adoption of the shorter distance metres would be enough, and the proposal was adopted, the distance was that arising from the unanimous opinion, that a maximum time mentioned being, probably, the most suitable one. ought to be fixed which was not to be exceeded. In other respects, The free swimming style must also be considered as the only one- no attention was to be paid to the time taken for the competition, that could be adopted. The event was arranged in heats without any but the event should be decided by the points given for form in the final, the time taken being the only decisive factor. execution of the ride, the way in which the obstacles were taken, etc. In the event, however, of two or more competitors having the same number of points, the result was to be decided by the time taken. In order not to be bound to a distance determined to the very metre Fencing. — as there would then exist greater freedom to pay regard to the A discussion arose as to whether free choice of weapons (epee,. character of the country when choosing the course — it was decided sabre or bayonet) should be allowed, or if the obligatory employment that the distance should not exceed 5,000 metres, a solution of the of one of these arms should be enforced, the bayonet being, most question which must be considered as the most successful one. certainly, the weapon which would be least used. Both plans have In order to give the riding event a fully field-service character, the their advantages and inconveniences, of course, but it will certainly leaders of the riding competition were empowered to so arrange the be acknowledged that to allow a free choice of weapon would lead course, which was not to exceed 5,000 metres (for which a maximum to many grave difficulties — when judging results in an Olympic com time of 15 minutes was fixed), that the height, breadth, character and number of the obstacles would correspond to the demands such ser petition, at least. Judging from every plausible reason, the choice of one, fixed arm- vice would make. According to this plan, the course would remain would he the right method, as the judging, in the case of such a.. unknown to the competitors, who would not gain any knowledge of competition as this, must be based on a comparison between two- it from the programme and rules they received, while they were not opponents of supposed equal capacity. It was a matter of exceeding" allowed to ride over the ground before the actual performance of the difficulty, on the other hand, to decide whether the epee or sabre event on the day of the competition, although the course, as regards should be used, though it must be acknowledged that, in such an its chief features, was to be shown to the riders a day or two before event as this, there is much that speaks for the adoption of the for the competition, none of the obstacles being then pointed out, mer weapon — even if, in many instances, a sympathy for the sabre however.