Swimmers’ Bid Refused

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32301, 20 May 1970, Page 18

Swimmers’ Bid Refused

(N.Z. Press Association) iui w

WELLINGTON.

An application by the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association to have two Auckland swimmers compete in extra events at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in July was refused by the executive of the Olympic and ! British Commonwealth Games Association last evening.

The N.Z.A.S.A. had sought Ito have Miss F. A. Crawford swim in the 100 metres butterfly in addition to the events for which she was originally nominated, and to add the 100 metres breaststroke to the list of events of Miss B. N. Williams.

A report from the Games association’s selection panel recommended strongly against re-opening considerations and the executive accepted the report without discussion. However, a further request from the swimming association to have Miss J. A. Wright (Canterbury) removed from the 100 metres backstroke event was announced that as four nominations had been' received for the event one| would have to be withdrawn to comply with Games rules.

Less Money to Find Sports raising money for Category B athletes will have to find $4O less if the competitors are under 26 years. The association was told by Its travel agents that team members

under 26 years could travel oni la youth fare of $795 compared: (with the budgeted fare of 15885.60.I$885.60. The executive decided that I [Category B athletes under 26 years would be asked to pay [ [51035 against the 11075 required ( Iby other Category B com[petitors. i The executive also decided to meet half the total cost of $750 of a social function planned by [Canterbury Games Promotion at Edinburgh in its effort to woo [delegates before the vole is (taken on the host city for the [1974 Games. Staying in Britain I Permission was given for the icyclists. B. W. Beeston and B W. Biddle, to remain in Britain after the Games. A request from the New Zealand Cycling [Association said the two (planned to stay for about a year to further their cycling experience. [ The association also gave per-: mission for similar applications [from the fencers, R. D. Peterson, Miss G. L. McDermitt andj Mrs H. P. Whitcher, but declined an application from' the fencer. M. L. Henderson, who described his reason as "business." After a comment from the president. Mr H. I. Austad, that I the team could be returning; “like Browns cows,” the! [executive agreed it would look [at the question of ensuring that] future teams travelling to, Games “go and return as a team.”

Cannot Report Games The Auckland journalist, R A. Williams, who has been; selected for the decathlon, will not be allowed to write articles for his employer while competing at the Games. The executive considered a letter from I New Zealand News, Ltd. which sought to exempt Williams from restrictions placed on team members. Under the rules of the association, team members are required to sign a declaration saying they will not write for newspapers while competing at the Games. In its letter the company said Williams was a professional journalist and writing for newspapers would 'not affect his amateur status. >

The company and Williams had agreed to allow the team manager to check Williams s reports before they were sent, | If the application failed, the firm said it would seek an explanation of the difference between Williams and the chairman of the association. Mr C. L. 8. Cross, who regularlv broadcast to New Zealand while attending Games meetings. Mr H. I. Austad. the president, and acting chairman while Mr Cross is overseas attended ' an International Olympic Committee meeting, said Mr Cross had never been away as a team member or official, and his costs when he was broadcasting had been met by the N.Z.B.C. Moving the application be declined. Mr L. w. Woods, a former team manager, said he felt that granting the application would make the position of the team manager impossible.