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Figure skating enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the opening of the eighth annual summer ice season in the arena on Saturday, June 24. These include budding champions who are depending on the 10 weeks of summer training to get them in top form for winter competitions while others will brush up for higher rating by the USFSA official judges’ school. The increase of four weeks in the length of this summer’s ice season is largely due, however, to the growing interest in figure skating as a healthful sport and hobby for all ages.

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Olympic decision

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This village was taken aback when residents read last week in metropolitan papers that the 1940 Olympic Winter Games had been turned down by this resort “because there wasn’t time in which to prepare.”

The statement was entirely contrary to fact, according to North Elba Supervisor Willis Wells. Following a hurried committee meeting and enthusiastic speculations, a cablegram was sent to Avery Brundage in London, as reported last week, stating that Lake Placid was ready and anxious to stage the games and requesting a cabled answer stating further particulars.

The next informal and indirect step in the proceedings was relayed through a London press dispatch that the games had gone to Germany with no further communication with Lake Placid. The reason is evident inasmuch as 18 nations in Europe can compete on that continent with much less expense than to send the teams to this country, but this resort had no opportunity to make a further bid for the games before the decision was handed down with such suddenness.

Rumors have since emanated from the uninformed that Lake Placid had turned down an opportunity, either through lack of time or the lack of financial resources.

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World peace

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From a statement issued by Supervisor Willis Wells, speaking for the North Elba Park District, under whose jurisdiction all Lake Placid sports facilities and events are held, it would seem that Lake Placid was quite satisfied with the decision of the International Olympic Committee in awarding the 1940 Olympic Winter Games to Germany.

Mr. Wells, vice president of the 1932 Olympic Winter Games committee, stated, “Lake Placid was disappointed in not receiving the 1940 Olympics award but had more than a mercenary interest in mind, more than an interest in the resultant publicity and business that Placid would receive in placing Lake Placid Olympic facilities at the disposal of the International Olympic Committee. With war clouds hanging ominously over the entire world, no finer gesture toward international amity and good will could be made than the bringing together of the athletes of all nations in the spirit of the ancient and honored tradition upon which they were founded.”

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Bobsled club

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A special meeting of the Adirondack Bobsled Club will be held at the arena at 8 p.m. Saturday to discuss ways and means of raising funds to send the bobsled crews to the Olympics next winter.

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Harness races

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Harness races will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the airport track under the sponsorship of the Lake Placid Driving Club. Vernon Devlin as chairman has announced that there will be events in the Class A pace, the Class B pace and a trot and pace event.

Miss Betty Churchill will drive Gilded Braden in the Class A pace for Barney Cross of Elizabethtown. Miss Churchill placed well in the last two events in Westport with the same horse. Other entries in this class will include Calumet Ethan, owned by George Tyler and driven by Vernon Devlin of Lake Placid.

Favor Smith will drive William Jewtraw’s Calumet Dayton in the trot and pace and Fred Fortune will drive his Elwood Guy.