What effect the “ghetto laws” of germany, by which German Jews are disenfranchised, will have on the participation of Jewish athletes in the Olympic Games was today the subject of considerable comment in athletic circles here.
The question arose when it was realized that in addition to the other obstacles that sports authorities have put in the path of Jewish athletes who might be eligible to participate in the games next year, there was this fact:
This question has given rise to the opinion that since the Jews are now classed officially as non-citizens as well as “non-Aryans,” the Reich sports authorities will use this fact in explanation of the absence of Jewish athletes from the German Olympics squad when it is finally constituted.
Just what affect the laws will have in this respect, however, is not clear even to the authorities who were questioned on the matter today by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
A clear cut decision on the question is not expected before Minister of the Interior Wilhelm Frick works out complete regulations as to how the laws are to be carried out in the daily life of the country. The regulations are expected within the next few days.
Meanwhile, the difficulties put into the path of Jewish athletes are such that hardly any German Jew is likely to enter any Olympics event unless as a member of a foreign team-in which case he would have to be a citizen or subject of the nation he is representing.
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