‘NO AFRICAN GAMES BAN’

Press, Issue 32345, 10 July 1970, Page 1

‘NO AFRICAN GAMES BAN’

(N.Z.P. A. -Reuter—Copyright) EDINBURGH (Scotland). July S There would be no threat of a mass African withdrawal from the 1974 Commonwealth Games if either Australia or New Zealand were the hosts, Mr Abraham Ordia, president of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, said last evening. Mr Ordia, who is also secretary of the Nigerian team for the Commonwealth Games next week, made his views known after criticism of African sports policy from the Australian team manager, Mr Arthur Tunstall. Mr Tunstall, w*>o arrived at Prestwick Airpo. yesterday with his party of 132, said African countries would hurt only themselves by pulling out of the Commonwealth Games if they were held in Melbourne in 1974. “The Games went on before some of these countries entered and they will

continue to do so after most of them have gone. If 9. some of the African states pulled out, they would > leave the Games to the i white countries.” | Mr Ordia said that ‘ neither country would be ’ opposed as hosts on this J occasion. But he added: • “Although there will be no , mention of any words like 1 ‘boycott’ when the Commonwealth Games Federa- • tion Assembly gets down to i discussions about the next • venue, we shall, of course, . continue to try to persuade r countries not to take part ; in any exchange of sport, i ing engagements with r South Africa. “Countries must continue I to demonstrate their resent- - ment at any sporting links f with a country that persists ; with apartheid.” ' Mr Ordia said that South ' Africa had been given • plenty of opportunities of changing its outlook. “Now,” he added, “it is time for them to be cut off from the sporting world I completely.”