Letters, Sep. 10, 1956

(4 of 4)

Your attention is called to the fact that I.O.C. President Avery Brundage was not promoting a new addition to the Olympic oath ["I am now, and intend to remain, an amateur"—Aug. 13]. He was reporting an amplification, not a change, of the pledge which has been in the rule book for years. The object is only to ascertain the intention of the competitor at the time of signing the pledge, there was "no surprise to learn that there might be athletes who could not predict their futures." Moreover, there was no "backtracking," only an explanation. The statement does indicate when "aspiring pros become illegitimate." It is that minute when they become aspiring pros.

AVERY BRUNDAGE Comite International Olympique Chicago