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Amateur
behaviour, irregularities, ignorance of regulations
From
the first day of the third Olympic Games until the last, problems
had not ceased to arise. The following incidents demonstrate
the amateur mentality of many among the athletes who  had
participated in the organization, as well as the rushed planning
of the Games.
The passion for alcohol of the Hungarian champion in the high
jump Lajos Gonczy deprived him of a better appearance and
an Olympic medal in the track and field events of the Saint
Louis Games. Although Gonczy had travelled over many kilometres
in order to participate in the organization, he did not forget
to hide in his luggage quite a few bottles of wine, so that
he would not have to deny himself from his favourite drink
during his stay in the USA. Nevertheless, those responsible
of the Hungarian delegation, being aware of their athlete's
passion, but also of his great talent as a high jumper, which
would probably offer him a medal, made certain to discover
the "illegal" load. However, their mistake was that instead
of getting rid of it totally, they just hid it, possibly to
reward their athlete after the end of the Games and celebrate
with him a potential victory. But they reckoned without the
host, or, rather, without Gonczy...
During the event the Hungarian high jumper literally did not
know what he was doing. Finally he ranked fourth with a performance
of 1.75m and when his fellow countrymen came near him, they
realized what had happened, since Gonczy smelled alcohol.
On the eve of the game he had discovered the hiding place
and consumed all the bottles of wine that had remained.
Even an incident of criminal impersonation had been recorded
in the Games of Saint Louis. More specifically in boxing,
which were included in the Games for the first time, the American
Carol Burton beat easily his opponent Peter Starhod, but a
few hours later it was revealed that another athlete named
Bolinger had competed in the place of Burton. Bolinger was
punished with life disqualification. As to Burton, no-one
ever heard of him since.
The water polo team of Germany arrived at the American city
with great expectations for a good appearance and for winning
a medal. Nevertheless, as soon as they arrived in the USA
they realized that the regulations of the Games had nothing
to do with those that were in force in their country. Earlier
no-one had seen to their information, nor had they thought
of it themselves. Therefore, they retired from the Games,
in which participated only three US university teams.
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