OLYMPIC GAMES.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16961, 9 October 1920, Page 5

OLYMPIC GAMES.

NEW ZEALANPERS AT ANTWERP. (rROM OUE OW>7 COREESPOXDBNT.) LONDON, Aug. 27. Mr K. Noidoti (Chriatchurchl, who has beep in England six.ce May, has just returned. from Antwerp, -where ho haa bean representing the New Amateur jmng Association at tho Upngrees of the iNationat Federation, held in tjiat city during tho progress of tho O.ympic uames, Tho oiiiv • contentious question raised at tho meeting, ho says, waa the .motion, by Franco to expel iipj» tho Federation, Germany, Austria, and Hungary. A letter from Germany v;aa received aiating that if in tpe opinion of tho Federation tho late war, which had been fought oat among, the nations, had interfered -with international sport, then Germany did not wish to remain .any longer » member of the Federation. The resignation of Germany was received by the Congress, and although Austria and Hungary were not ©xptiilcd* both countries wero Winiod not to enter qny competitors in any events under the jurisdiction of "tho Federation. . . . Mr Nordon expressed grcat_ indignation a. the treatment accorded to tne members OS the Nt;v.' Zealand Olympic team in the matter of financial pl.owaaces. „ "It took me two days to find thorn, he said, "and when I did manage to locate them in an c bscuro hotel on tne waterfront, I found tbem very downhearted. I was informed that outside the steamer fare each competitor was. provided with the munificent sum of £60, out of which had to bo defrayed th° expenses of the vrholo of the trip. They stayed en route at Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Durban, at the last-mentioned nlaco five davs. They arrived at Antwerp about two davs before the commencement of tho Games. They had to pay the huge feea demanded by the hotelkoepers at Antwerp, and when the Gajnea are finished they will havo to remain in Great Britain for six weeks before the steamer Nestor,. by which they return to New Zealand, sails from Glasgow. And all this has to bo done on £60. The authorities in New Zealand cannot understand tho position in Great Britain or the Continent, or they would never have sent our team away with ruch a ridiculously Email allowance. . "When one considers that small countries ".lie Esthonia, Czechoslovakia, and Finland," said Mr Nordon, "could have a properly organised management, and also whan one considers the way the English team was treated, ono wonders what chance our men could have under such conditions. Tho English representatives were housed in a school in Antwerp. They had professional trainers. They had their own cooks, and everything was done to ensure the athlete going on to the field in the very beat condition. "Notwithstanding the fact that our New Zealand representatives arrived only two days before the commencement of the Games, Davidson ran Paddock, the champion American sprinter, within a few inches, so that with proper training and a reasonable time in Antwerp there is no telling what might havo happened. "I would like to add, however," said Mr Nordon, "'that no blame is attributable_ to Mr A- Marryat, the chairman of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, who worked like a Trojan in raising the money that was secured. What is wanted, in my i opinion, is a larger subsidy from tihe Government and a more generous response from tho people of New Zealand." J