WILLIAMS RETURNS "Disillusioned" With Games Association

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30632, 24 December 1964, Page 13

WILLIAMS RETURNS "Disillusioned" With Games Association

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, December 23.

Although “disillusioned” with the New Zealand Olympic and Empire Games Association over his non-selection for the Tokyo Games, the decathlon competitor, R. A. Williams, returned to Auckland today determined to gain selection for the Jamaican Empire Games —“and prove my overseas performances genuine.”

Williams returned with the shot and discus man, L. R. Mills who gained late inclusion for the games —after both had spent two years overseas attempting to improve their performances.

Williams said he had not allowed his training to fall away since he missed inclusion—rather he had trained hard each day for the last three months as a condition-

ing which he hoped would provide good performances in New Zealand. Doing More Harm “I’m very disappointed and disillusioned with the Olympic Games association,” said Williams, “particularly with the inability of the selectors and executive to move in a positive manner. “This is doing more harm than good and I’m thinking not only of my own fortunes but of the future of other athletes who may be similarly placed. “The attitude contrasts

greatly with that of the American Olympic body and in comparison is negative. “I hope now to prove that my performances in the United States were genuine and to work for Jamaica in an attempt to win the decathlon there.” Overseas Experience

Both athletes agreed that any New Zealand athlete who wished to improve his performance—with the possible exception of the distance runners—“just had to go overseas.”

“He either has to go in a New Zealand team,” said Mills, “and quite apart from Empire and Olympic Games, or else take the bull by the horns and go independently. “We just don’t have the incentive and competition in field events in this country. Unless a kid is exceptionally talented he can just forget about it. “I’m convinced that I would never have reached over 60ft in the shot if I had not gone to the States. There you have the training, teaching and competitive incentive. Ideal Facilities

"Here in New Zealand you can read books and look at films, but there with the tough training and competition you learn to pick out the most important facets of the work and exploit them.”

Williams said that he found the greatest advantage in the United States to be the ideal facilities and conditions which made his performances consistent.

“You get to setting your sights higher," said Williams, “with a different conception of heights and distances.”