Auckland Withdraws Bid To Hold Games

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31247, 20 December 1966, Page 22

Auckland Withdraws Bid To Hold Games

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, December 19. Auckland has officially withdrawn its bid to hold the 1974 Commonwealth Games.

At a meeting of the executive of the Auckland Amateur Sports Association tonight, it was decided to write to the New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association withdrawing the Auckland application for the games.

The president of the A.A.S.A. (Mr B. C. Simpson) said that the present sentiments of the Empire Games Association would make it almost impossible for an Auckland bid to succeed.

“If we continued with our efforts many hundreds of hours of detailed planning would be fruitless,” he said. Mr W. L. Dalton said that the Empire Games Association had laid down conditions that applicants for the Games had to meet

“We met all the conditions but Christchurch did not. I feel it was mainly a sentimental decision to give the games to Christchurch.

“Looking through their application a number of defects can be found especially in regard to their budget. “It is inconceivable that

Christchurch can make a financial success of the Games but nevertheless the decision rested in their favour.” Mr Dalton said that he found it difficult to understand how the Auckland City Council had failed to support Auckland’s approach for the Games. “We have so much to offer,” he said. *

Mr R. W. Larkin said he hoped that in the future support for any Games would be sought from a body with a wider representation such as the Auckland Regional Authority or the Auckland Local Bodies’ Association. It was decided that a committee of the A.A.S.A. would be set up in February to seek a meeting with the Mayor of Auckland (Dr R. G. McElroy) to discuss what support the council is prepared to give sports associations in Auckland. The A.A.S.A. will write to 18 national sports associations

asking them if they would support a Pan Pacific Games in Auckland in 1970.

Mr Simpson said he did not think such an approach could be labelled “sour grapes” as there was nothing of a major sporting nature in 1970.

“There are eight years between now and the Commonwealth Games in 1974. I don’t think we could be accused of trying to stage a counterattraction to the Commonwealth Games.”