1912 Olympic Games Official Report Part 2

AS regards the weapon, it was not considered suitable to require theuse of any fixed model, otherwise than that it had to be one intendedto be held in one hand only, and any revolver or pistol couldbe used provided that it had open fore- and back-sight.Regarding the number of shots, these were fixed at 20, whichwere to be fired in 4 series of 5 shots each. With respect to thetrial of the weapon it was determined that, before the shooting forthe event began, 2 sighters should be allowed at the ranges, undersimilar conditions to those obtaining during the competition.Swimming.The first thing that had to be done in regard to this event wasto determine the distance that would give a suitable test of strengthand endurance. In general, it was considered that a length of 3oometres would be enough, and the proposal was adopted, the distancementioned being, probably, the most suitable one.The free swimming style must also be considered as the only onethat could be adopted. The event was arranged in heats without anyfinal, the time taken being the only decisive factor.Fencing.A discussion arose as to whether free choice of weapons (épée,sabre or bayonet) should be allowed, or if the obligatory employmentof one of these arms should be enforced, the bayonet being, mostcertainly, the weapon which would be least used. Both plans havetheir advantages and inconveniences, of course, but it will certainlybe acknowledged that to allow a free choice of weapon would leadto many grave difficulties — when judging results in an Olympic competition,at least.Judging from every plausible reason, the choice of one, fixed armwould be the right method, as the judging, in the case of such acompetition as this, must be based on a comparison between twoopponents of supposed equal capacity. It was a matter of exceedingdifficulty, on the other hand, to decide whether the épée or sabreshould be used, though it must be acknowledged that, in such anevent as this, there is much that speaks for the adoption of the formerweapon — even if, in many instances, a sympathy for the sabrewas very noticable — and it was found that the proposal of theSwedish Committee in favour of the first-named arm was the fittest.It was determined that the fencing should be determined by threehits of five, and that the encounters should, preferably, take place inthe open air, on some fairly level ground, rather than indoors on awood floor, or on a platform covered with a linoleum carpet.The construction of the weapon was to be similar to that fixedby the rules for fencing with the épée (see “Fencing Competitions”)-642