Record Entry For Games

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32213, 4 February 1970, Page 21

Record Entry For Games

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. A record number of 36 countries have already entered for the ninth Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in July, the games committee announced.

Australia, with a contingent of 122, is sending the fifth largest team to the games, following England (246), Canada (197), Scotland (169) and Wales (163).

The games committee, in a statement, said that they are keeping ■well up with their schedule. One of the main projects undertaken was the Royal Commonwealth Pool, which was opened on January 16 by Princess Anne. The baths have been highly praised by members of the Olympic committees of various Commonwealth countries.

The statement quotes Sir Edgar Tanner, secretarytreasurer of the Australian Olympic Association, as saying: “I don’t think I’ve seen better competition baths in the world ... and I’ve seen a lot. “I’ve never seen a better sports centre than Meadowbank. There might be some as good but none better. Scotland has built well and future generations are going to benefit from Edinburgh’s foresight.”

The Meadowbank Sports Centre, which is costing £2.3 million (about five million dollars), will be in action in May. Accommodation for competitors is being made available at Edinburgh University’s Pollock halls of residence. 1860 Competitors Officials estimate there will be about 1800 competitors in the games, which will last 10 days and start on July 16. Tickets for the games were on sale from January 12. More than 300,000 tickets have been printed for the nine sports in the games and special allotments are being made for Commonwealth countries.