Olympic Swimmer Alleges ‘Theft, Graft, Corruption’

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29827, 21 May 1962, Page 13

Olympic Swimmer Alleges ‘Theft, Graft, Corruption’

(N2. Press Awn.—Coppripht) SYDNEY, May 20. The former Australian swimming star, Miss Lorraine Crapp. yesterday accused her Fellow team members a.t the 1960 Rome Olympic Games of theft, and team officials of graft and corruption. In an interview with the Sidney “Daily Mirror” she is reported as saying that: Team members ransacked shops at Bahrein on the way to Rome and stole cameras. Officials refused to allow the plane to take off until the cameras were returned. The Australian Olympic Federation secretary. Mr E. Tanner, was “installed in the Olympic village with his wife and daughter” when he had no official capacity with the team. Tanner’s daughter Ann occupied a room alone while team members had to share rooms. Swimming trainers gave to other swimmers vitamins which had been donated for team members. “Commandeered” Van Miss Crapp, in the interview, alleged also that a top official “commandeered” for

has own use a van which should have been used to transport team members, and that officials gave friends “free trips” on chartered aircraft.

The general manager of the team, Mr S. Grange, said tonight there was "very little truth” in any of Miss Crapp’s allegations. He said he was astonished at the interview and believed that she could not have been reported accurately Other officials flatly denied there had been any theft or corruption. Miss Crapp. who is married to Dr. H. W. Thurlow, of Woolahra. refused to discuss the interview tonight. In the newspaper inter-

view. Miss Crapp is reported as saying team member! hod "swarmed through Bahrein , like a pack of locusts." She said; "Some team members' stealing (some called it ‘souveniring’) was a minor affair compared wuh blatant graft by some of the officials and coaches.”