view raw text
GovernorsBackCampaign To Raise Olympic Funds Financial Aid Needed to Send American Athletes to Helsinki By the United Press Fourteen state governors . have proclaimed the period of May 18-25 as "Olympic Week" as a means of focusing attention on the campaign to raise the 50,000 needed to finance the United States participation in the Olympic games at Helsinki, it was announced here yesterday. J. Lyman Bingham, executive director of the U. S. Olympic Committee, hailed the action of the various governors as "heartening" and said "it will definitely stimulate the endeavors of the thousands of volunteer workers for the Olympic fund." "Tlus recognition of the Olympic movement and encouragement from men in high office will give us renewed energy in completing this assignment," Bingham said. The governors who have proclaimed Olympic Week are Sid McMath, of Arkansas; Earl Warren, of California; John Lodge, of Connecticut; Puller Warren, of Florida; Herman Talmadge, of Georgia; Edward A. Arn, of Kansas; Theodore R. McKeldin, of Maryland; Val Peterson, of Nebraska; Charles H: Russell, of Nevada; Thomas E. Dewey, of New York; Frank J. Lausche, of Ohio; Johnston Murray, of Oklahoma; John S. Fine, of Pennsylvania, and Dennis J. Roberts, of Rhode Island. The U. S. expects to send 22 teams in 17 sports to the Olympic games, with approximately 350 athletes competing for the United States. Avery Brundage, president of the U. S. Olympic Committee, said the receipts from tryouts and financial aid from member organizations would fall far short of the 50,000 needed. "The extent of our participation depends entirely upon our success in raising the amount of money required to equip, transport, feed and house the U. S. Olympic team," Brundage said. "Our team is fi-nan" " -n a democratic basis. We receive no__ -ment funds. In other countries, including Russia which is entered in the games for the first time, much of the expense of the Olympic competition is borne by the government."
