Main Party Of N.Z. Team In Melbourne

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28130, 20 November 1956, Page 16

Main Party Of N.Z. Team In Melbourne

(N’-Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 9 p.m.) MELBOURNE. Nov. 19 Tired from their flight but obviously overjoyed to be in Melbourne for the 1956 Olympic Games, the main party of the New Zealand Olympic team arrived at Essendon airport rfom Christchurch this afternoon. They were taken immediately by bus to the Heidelberg Olympic Village to settle into their comfortable quarters in Liberty parade. One of the last teams to assemble in Melbourne, the New Zealanders arrived to one of the quietest wel • comes the new Olympic air terminal has known. Their reception from a crowd of about 250 well-wishers—-many of them Games visitors from New Zealand—was in marked contrast to the frenzied excitement at the arrival of -bjg European teams last week. They arrived more as neighbours who have ,come to join in a big occasion than as sports internationals.

There were no television’ cameras and airport radio and press interviews with the competitors—all features of the earlier airport scenes. Only one Australian newspaper was represented at the arrival, and reporters who approached New Zealand team members were told that none of the competitors was allowed to make statements to the press. New Zealand journalists covering the arrival were told that the manager, Mr L. W. Woods, would speak for the team. Mr Woods refused one Australian journalist’s request to speak to the 1500 metres runner, Neville Scott. He said Scott was tired after the plane journey and he would prefer that the reporter saw him tomorrow. Mr Woods said all the New Zealanders came up to a high selection standard. Asked if there were any S articular gold medal hopes in the Few Zealand team, he said: “They are all hopes.” With the arrival tomorrow of the cycling and wrestling competitors with their managers and the assistant team manager, Mr J. G. Barnes, M.P.. the New Zealand Olympic team will be complete. Today’s party included the swimming, athletic, weightlifting and boxing squads and the first New Zealand hockey team ever to compete in the Games. Peter Wells, New Zealand’s adopted English high jumper, who will be competing for Britain at the Games, was delighted to find that his quarters are near the New Zealand section of the village. He competed for Britain at the 1952 Olympic Games, but said today that he now knows far more members of the New Zealand team than the British. He flew from Christchurch with the new party today. The four swimmers in the party, Misses Marrion Roe, Winifred Griffin, Jean Stewart and Phillipa Gould planned, to have “a splash’’ in the Olympic pool if facilities could be arranged, but would have one in the privately-owned pool which has been put at the team’s disposal, if the training lanes at the Olympic pool were not available.

The manager of the swimming team. Mr J. Donaldson (Christchurch) said the workouts would be light. Miss Griffin’s back, which had given the Auckland girl some pain earlier in the week, was “perfectly all right now” according to Mr Donaldson. The New Zealanders ran into the language difficulty as soon as they arrived at the Olympic Village. The quarters they have been allotted are between those of the Ethiopians the Koreans.

Later they explored the village. They found that inquiries in English were greeted with blank stares or with excited replies - Italian, Russian or even Urdu, Pushtu, uqy Urhobo, a dialect of Nigeria. The New Zealanders, who will not win any medals for linguistic ability, I were at first bewildered and later 1 philosophical. They will not lack someone to talk to however, for the Americans are just across the street.

The trip from Essendon. Airport to the village took half an hour and within minutes of their arrival the members of the team were preparing to turn out for training. The team was welcomed by Lincoln Hurring, the swimmer, and Murray Halberg. the runner, who arrived in the village last week. Tired after their air trip, the New Zealanders were all in oed by 9 p.m. No curfew has been imposed, but athletes have been told they should retire early until at least their events are over.

The team will train at widelyscattered venues tomorrow at intervals between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. There will be no sightseeing trips for them for tw’o or three days.

The New Zealand flag will be raised over the team’s quarters at a ceremony on Wednesday morning.