2,000-ATHLETES FROM COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THROUGHOUT JAPAN ASSEMBLED IN THE NATIONAL STADIUM IN TOKYO YESTERDAY (FRIDAY) FRO THE 1967-PRE-UNIVERSIADE CONVENTION. THE UNIVERSIADE IS TO BE HELD IN AUGUST OF NEXT YEAR AND WILL BE ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 3,000 ATHLETES FROM 80-COUNTRIES.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JAPAN ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, PRINCE TSUNENORI TAKIDA, AND PRINCE HITACHI, THE YOUNGEST SON OF THE EMPEROR, WERE AMONG YESTERDAY'S AUDIENCE OF 30,000.

JAPANESE ATHLETIC AUTHORITIES THINK NEXT YEAR'S UNIVERSIADE WILL BE A POINTER TOWARDS THE 1968 OLYMPIC GAMES IN MEXICO. THEY SAY IT WILL GIVE YOUNG JAPANESE ATHLETES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE AND IMPROVE THEIR ABILITIES BEFORE THE OLYMPICS. THE YOUNG JAPANESE AND THE OVERSEAS ATHLETES WILL BE PERFORMING AT MANY OF THE VENUES OF THE 1964 OLYMPIC GAMES WHICH HELD IN TOKYO.

AT YESTERDAY'S CONVENTION, SEVERAL EVENTS WERE STAGED, INCLUDING A GYMNASTICS DISPLAY, THE LONG JUMP, POPE VAULTING, THE 100-METRES DASH FOR BOYS AND THE GIRLS' 80-METRES SPRING.