SOVIET TEAM ON WAY

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28099, 15 October 1956, Page 12

SOVIET TEAM ON WAY

(Rec. 7 p.m.) MELBOURNE. Oct. 13. The Soviet news agency, Tass. renorted tonight that the bulk of the Soviet Olympic team has left for Melbourne from Odessa in the Soviet motor-ship Gruzia. The team—one of the largest to comnete in the Games —will take part in 21 of the events. On board the Gruzia is also a large quantity o r equinment, including the yachts of the sailing team and rowing boats, as well as motor buses and passenger cars for the transportation of the athletes. Tass added that the passengers included coaches, doctors, referees, and officials. A small advance party had already left by plane, and the rest of the team, consisting of athletes who had not yet been selected, .vere to fly out next month. All members of the team, however, are to return home by sea on board the Gruzia. South African Team South Africa’s team for the Games was announced tonight. It consists of 51 competitors and seven officials. South Africa will be represented in 10 sports—athletics (9). cycling (6), swimming (8), boxing (7). wrestling (5), weight lifting (3), gymnastics (2). shooting (2). pentathlon (3), and yachting (6). There are no Olympic champions in the team, which includes nine Empire Games gold medallists. Fifteen competitors took part in the Helsinki Games, and 16 in the Empire Games at Vancouver.

The chairman of the South African Olympic Games Association. Mr Bertie Sims, said: “This is probably the best all-round team we have ever sent to the Olympic Games, and I feel confident that several will return with

gold medals, but even if they don’t I know they wall uphold South Africa’s sporting prestige.” Italy will send 137 competitors to the Olympic Games, at a cost of £195,500, according to a cable message from Rome A Paris message says France will send a team of 127 competitors.