Enthusiasm Shown For City Empire Games Bid

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30045, 1 February 1963, Page 11

Enthusiasm Shown For City Empire Games Bid

Difficulties to be overcome if the Empire Games are to be held in Christchurch in 1970 were discussed at a meeting of local bodies and sports organisations convened by the Canterbury Progress League last evening. Enthusiasm for holding the Games was expressed, and sports organisations are to submit detailed estimates of the facilities they would need, together with the costs, to another meeting early in March. “I hope Christchurch will jump out and go for these Games.” said Dr. L. L. Pownall, Vice-Chancellor oi the University of Canterbury. “Christchurch is not noted for this, but I, for one, would like to see us try, and try damned hard.”

Mr N. G. Pickering, representing the Christehurch City Council said the approach should not be timid. Mr P. J. Skellerup, also representing the City Council, said he was certain it would do everything it possibly could to persuade the British Olympic and Empire Games Association to hold the Games in Christehurch. There was an attendance of 18 when the meeting began, including representatives from the Christchurch City Council, the Heathcote County Council, the Paparua County Council, the University of Canterbury, the Christehurch Junior Chamber, the Canterbury Amateur Sports Federation, and associations representing athletics, swimming, cycling, rowing, Rugby, soccer, men’s basketball, and bowls.

The financial aspect would need the greatest consideration, said Cr. Skellerup. Some

facilities—such as those for rowing—were not “quite right” They could be taken care of, but it would cost a great deal of money. “We could not expect ratepayers to

come up and foot the bill for several hundred thousand pounds,” he said. “The sporting organisations, and the general public will have to show their eagerness by getting behind this project, and contributing a large sum of money.” Speaking for the Canterbury centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Asso elation, Mr E. Lunn said that Christcburcimih did not yet have the facilities to stage Empire Games athletics. “To run the Empire Games athletics, we would need a cinder track in a stadium with accommodation for as many as Lancaster Park would hold—but that is what we have not got,” he said. To a question about putting down a cinder track on Lancaster Park, Mr Lum said that the Canterbury centre had not considered the cost of tearing up the grass, laying down a cinder track, and then tearing that up again—always supposing the Victory Park Board would agree to it. Mir H. C. Blazey (a member of the board): No comment. Centennial Pool For the Canterbury Swimming Aoaooiation, Mr M. X Duckmanton said the Centennial Pool was built to required standards, and bad the diving facilities, but it did not have training or “warm-up” facilities. “You cannot expect swimmers to warm up three or four miles away, and come in for their events,” said Mr Duckmaoton. “They have to warm up over the back fence, atenoot. As for covered seating accommodation, it was planned to install seating for 800 at the Centennial Pool, whereas in Perth there was covered seating for only 500. For the Canterbury Cycling Association, Mr L. S- Fricfcleton said that it would be impossible to stage Empire Games cycling at English Park in its present condition. To bring it up to international standards would need

far more money than the City Council was prepared to spend at present. Representing the Canterbury Rowing Association, Mr E. R. McCalman said Empire Games rowing would require a 2000yds straight course, of 60 metres minimum depth. free of current “Kerr’s Reach is an S-shaped course, only 150 ft wide at its widest point, and has not the required depth. How we could get over this the Rowing Association is not certain yet. The most promising prospect we can thank of at the moment is to dredge a course in the Estuary. There are alternatives at Akaroa or Lake Forsyth, but there are very great difficulties with them.” Facilities st Ham

Dr. Pownall said that by 1966, a Students’ Union building costing £500,0(0 would be built at Bam, with facilities for feeding and servicing generally about 4000 to 5000 persons. By 1970, there would be a refectory to provide meals foe many hundreds, and a cafeteria to cater for 300. By 1970, too, the university would have pressed the Government for three balls of residence to accommodate 1200, and by 1980 to accommodate 2000.

In addition, by 1970 H was hoped to have a cinder trade, and training facilities «n--bracing many acres. “It is very pleasing indeed for one who has been peddling these particular projects round local bodies and asking for money to turn so soon back to the community and to say that I am certain that if the students were approached they would be most amenable to return, to afi those who contributed, something by way of a token payment," Dr. Pownall said. He could not apeak for the university council, but he was quite certain that council members would be very happy indeed to make available the facilities expected at Ham.