OLYMPIC TEAM

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30927, 7 December 1965, Page 19

OLYMPIC TEAM

Training In U.S. Urged (N.Z. Press Association? AUCKLAND. A proposal that a section of the 1968 New Zealand Olympic Games team acclimatise in a United States city situated at an altitude similar to Mexico City was made at an inaugural meeting of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Athletic Coaches* Association. The section of the teams to acclimatise should consist of competitors taking part in events or competitions which were adversely affected by high altitude, it was said. The time of acclimatisation should be governed by a recommendation from the Sports Medicine Federation in Dunedin. The reason given for the need to acclimatise at a high altitude city in the United States rather than in Mexico City itself was to prevent stomach disorders among team members.

The meeting proposed that the competitors be flown to Mexico City immediately before their events. The Auckland hammerthrowing champion, S. Johnson, was elected chairman and Mr J. Bellwood, secretary. The Auckland centre president, Mr R. Cheater, and a prominent coach, Mr R. Hoggard, were elected to an executive committee, together with the chairman and secretary.