REINSTATED ATHLETE

EYANS AND THE GAMES

ELIGIBILITY TO COMPETE

(By "Sprinter.") One of tho matters takon up by Mr. 11. I. Austad, chairman of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Council, while on a tour abroad was the eligibility of reinstated New Zealand athletes competing at international meetings, and in his discussions on the subject he quoted specifically the case of D. Evans, of Taihape, New Zealand 440 yards and SBO yards champion. Mr. Austad said on his return to New Zealand, that as a result of his negotiations with tho English A.A.A., it could be taken as fairly definite that athletes reinstated as amateurs by the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association would, subject to certain conditions, be eligible to compete at the Olympic Games. A local sports writer- lias made tho suggestion .that it is "up to the New Zealand Amateur Athlotic Association to communicate with the, secretary of the International Amateur. Athletic Federation for a direct ruling on Evans's position," in view of the forthcoming Olympic Games at Los Angeles in 1932. The position is that some weeks ago the New Zealand . Olympic and British Empire Games Association discussed this particular matter, and since then Evans's case, with' a strong recommendation for favourable consideration, has been forwarded to the International Olympic Committee, through the British Olympic Association, for an opinion. The attitude v adopted by the Now Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association was that it was bettor to make absolutely, certain at once of the position, rather than find at tho last minute that Evans was ineligible. The association at the time decided also to make public the present position from the point of view of the rules, and quoted the.following rule:— "An athlete taking part in the. Olympic Games must satisfy the following conditions:—(l) Must not be, ,or knpwr ingly have become, a professional in tho sport for which he is entered or in any other sport; (2) must -^ot have received reimbursement or compensation for loss of salary." When a mere lad Evans ran for cash at some meetings in the Taihape district, where at that time there were no amateur clubs. Since his reinstatement Evans has made a name for him--Bolf in the amateur ranks, and if any proof is required of his bona fides it is to be found in his work in the interests of amateur sport in Taihape, where now largely duo to him an amateur club is established.

Kules, of course, are necessary for the good government of any branch of sport. It is no secret, however, that there have been cases in other parts of the world where sd-called amateurs have sailed pretty close to the borderline, and, perhaps, even over it; but here in New Zealand the Amateur Athletic Association keeps a very strict eye on the question''of status. Indeed, to- quote the opinion of Mr. Austad: "We in New ] Zealand are looked upon as >ceping to the amateur laws as stringently as_ airy country in the world —in my opinion more 'stringently." It will probably-be several weeks before advice is received from Home by the New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association, but: it does seem that to debar Evans from competing at international meetings would be stretching things to. a point that in the opinion of many conversant with the facts of Evans's case is not'warranted. Evans has been reinstated as an amateur. He; is an amateur in hisown country, andjjffseiected, should not be stopped from representing New Zealand at Los Ange.les. .