WRANGLING ENDS, SKI-ING BEGINS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31598, 8 February 1968, Page 13

WRANGLING ENDS, SKI-ING BEGINS

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

GRENOBLE.

With the threat of a major split between the International Olympic Committee and the International Ski-ing Federation removed, the tenth Winter Olympics began in comparative harmony yesterday.

On the eve of the games, the . 1.0. C. agreed that skiers could take part with trade names on their skis, provided that they were not displayed to cameras or television.

After completing their events, the skiers will have to leave the course by a special route and remove their skis before being photographed. Skiers who did not comply with the ruling will be disqualified. The 1.0.C.’s decision removed a grave threat to the success of the games, which

were opened yesterday by President de Gaulle. The decision ended days of wrangling in which the I.S.F. first agreed to the skiers keeping trade names—against an earlier ruling by the 1.0. C. —after a threatened walk-out by some of the world’s top skiers. The 1.0. C. called a full

meeting and produced an acceptable solution after a lengthy session. The games began with matches in the ice hockey tournament, in which Russia, the world and Olympic champion and favourite again, beat Finland, 8-1. In other matches, Canada, five times Olympic champion, outplayed West Germany, 6-1, and the other members of the “big three,” Czechoslovakia, gained a comfortable, 5-1 win over the United States. The figure skaters have an early start in their opening session, with the first start ers performing in the women’s compulsory figures. Favourite for the title is Peggy Fleming, the 1966 world champion from the United States. The most hazardous of the winter sports, the bobsleigh, also will start with the twoman crews making the first two of their four runs on the treacherous icy track at Alpe d’Huez, high in the mountains, 40 miles from Grenoble.

A. Nash and R. Dixon, of Britain, will be defending their title, but the favourites are E. Monti, the world champion, and his brakeman, L. de Paolis.

Yacht Leader.— The United States yacht Ondine has widened to SOmin its lead over Stormvogel in the 1200-mile annual oceanic race to Rio de Janeiro, the Argentine Yacht Club announced yesterday. The two ketches are the biggest of the 32 boats from eight countries in the race.

the New Zealand Road Run- ; ners’ Club as part of the cen-1 tennial celebrations. I Runners left Stewart Island with the torch on Tuesday and will, deliver it to Huntly on Saturday. Sixty-three Canterbury runners are taking the torch as far as Seddon today. They

Running day and night, New 1 Zealand athletes taking part i in the Rothman's 1638-mile 1 Huntly Centennial relay carried the torch through Can-, terbury yesterday and last , evening. More than 500 athletes are taking part in the relay, i which has been organised by i

are running an average of three miles each and at slightly less than 10 miles an hour. The photograph shows the Mayor (Sir George Manning) welcoming the former New Zealand sprint champion, A. G. Steel, who carried the torch into Cathedral Square yesterday.