OLYMPIC SIDELIGHTS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30559, 30 September 1964, Page 19

OLYMPIC SIDELIGHTS

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

TOKYO, September 29. The tallest Olympic competitor, the Russian basketball player, Jan Krumins, who stands 7ft 2in in his socks, is using two beds at the main Olympic village. Two beds have been placed end to end to fit him, even though extensions were provided to the beds to accommodate other tall athletes. Seats Too Low The Australian athletes have been banned from riding the village bicycles. The team’s general manager, Mr L. Curnow, said: “They are dangerous.” Hundreds of bicycles made available by the Japanese Olympic officials are being ridden in a most erratic way all over the village. There have been several accidents, resulting in scratches and bruising. Mr Curnow said that one of the problems was the size of the cycles. “They were built for Japanese riders and the seats are too low to the ground.”—(N.Z.P.A, Special Correspondent.) Weighty Problem A curfew has been imposed on Australia’s girl swimmers and they have been given a lecture requesting selfdiscipline in their eating habits.

The girls must be in the women’s quarters by 8 p.m. daily and in bed by 8.30 p.m. It was imposed after the girls had a weight check. It was found that several had put on weight, one girl 61b and another 21b. The team doctor, Dr. Howard Toyne, asked what was causing the trouble, said: “Pastries, including apple pies, and a large consumption of milk because the girls are steering clear of the local water.”—(N.Z.P.A., Special Correspondent). Wet Training Heavy rain which has fallen every day since the New Zealand team arrived in Japan is delaying the training schedule of the five-man road cycling team. The cycling manager, Mr R. Carruthers, said that the cyclists were below their peak fitness and there was still some work to do before they reached their top. “I don’t want the boys to go out in this drenching rain, but if it doesn’t stop soon, I’ll have to,” he said. All the boats had travelled well from New Zealand and with better weather for training the crews would be able to get them into proper trim. —(N.Z.P.A., Special Correspondent). Sartorial “I believe that on occasions like these you should look like a British gentleman.” said the quarter-miler, A. D. Metcalfe, when he left with the British team for Tokyo. He was wearing a bowler hat and carrying a rolled umbrella.—(London, N.Z.P.A., Special Correspondent). New Scull The New Zealand rower, M. P. Watkinson, should be able to accustom himself to the new boat being prepared for him in Tokyo “within a couple of days,” said his coach (Mr W. Alley) in Auckland today. “An oarsman, even an experienced one like Murray, can’t just jump into a new boat and row merrily away.” he said. “If he tried to, he’d fall out, because he wouldn’t have the "feel’ of the boat

“It takes an experienced single sculler about 10 minutes to 'feel’ a new boat and pinpoint its worst features. And it takes him a couple of days to accustom himself to the boat”—(P.A.) Most Willing Journalists covering the Olympic Games are finding it easier to talk to members of the Russian team—in spite of language barriers—than to Australian and New Zealand athletes. The Australians and New Zealanders are forbidden to speak to reporters unless their section manager is present. The ban has made some of the younger competitors nervous about even saying “hullo.” On the other hand, the Russians will even come up to press representatives to talk—and are happy to answer any questions asked, without any intervention or objections by their officials.— (P.A. Copyright).