NON-WHITES FOR GAMES

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28926, 20 June 1959, Page 13

NON-WHITES FOR GAMES

South African Promise

(Rec. 10 p.m.) JOHANNESBURG, June 19.

General H. B. Klopper, chairman of the South African Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association Council, has said that worthy South African non-white sportsmen would be given the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games. He announced last night that the council had confirmed a promise given to the International Olympic Committee in May by the South African delegate, Mr Reginald Honey. Mr Honey was reported to have assured the International Olympic Committee that racial discrimination played no part in South Africa’s selection of Olympic sportsmen. General Klopper said it would be left to the controlling body of each sport to decide which nonwhites were up to the required standard.

Mr Honey’s assurances to the International Olympic Committee included a promise that the South African Government would not withhold passports from nonwhites chosen to compete in the Olympic Games, he said.

General Klopper said he could not speak for the, Government, but it had been made clear in two recent decisions that the Government would not withhold passports.