New Zealanders Express Views

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31661, 23 April 1968, Page 15

New Zealanders Express Views

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 22. The president of the New Zealand Olympic and British Commonwealth Games Association (Mr H. I. Austad) said today it was hard to understand the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee that South Africa should not be allowed to participate in the Mexico Olympic Games, in view of South Africa’s apparent compliance with the rules governing the acceptance of teams.

Mr Austad said the board’s recommendation appeared to apply better to those countries which had threatened to withdraw for political reasons.

viously voted against South Africa’s admission.

Mr Cross said it could not be known at this stage whether the Games would be “a sham” because of withdrawals. “To my knowledge, only one country has confirmed its decision to withdraw,” he said. “About 46 countries have threatened to withdraw, but that is all they have done.”

If carried into effect, the decision could strike at the very roots of the non-politi-cal Olympic movement, with damaging results, he added. The chairman of the association (Mr C. L. S. Cross) said that if South Africa was not allowed to take part it would be a very bad thing for the Olympic movement. “It would be recognition of the fact that the 1.0. C. is prepared to give way to political pressure,” he said. “All the threatened boycotts have been tied up with politics, and the Olympic movement should be, as it always has been, above politics. “For this reason, if for no other, it would be a great pity if the original decision were altered.”

Mr Cross said New Zealand as a whole would be disappointed if South Africa was barred from competing. “At our annual meeting, delegates gave unanimous support to South Africa, and many expressed their concern that certain countries were endeavouring to make political issues out of the Olympic Games,” he said. “The committee has already voted to admit South Africa, and now this same committee is going to vote again.” Thirty-six votes would carry the issue, and as far as he knew only 27 had pre-