Christchurch favoured as 1974 venue

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32352, 18 July 1970, Page 11

Christchurch favoured as 1974 venue

the spotlight x at Edinburgh will swing away from the athletic track, the swimming pool and the seven other arenas housing the ninth Commonwealth Games and come to rest on the more sombre surroundings Of a conference room. No gold medals will be at stake, but in a world where sport and politics are becoming increasingly entwined the four-yearly meeting of the British Commonwealth Games Federation will be called to order in an atmosphere no less electric than that of the sporting fields. The agenda is long, but for New Zealand, and more particularly Christchurch, it is an item well down the list which will be allimportant The decision made might leave an indelible mark on the city’s history. The item: the venue for the 1974 Games. As the federation moves through the agenda, the New Zealand delegates might be excused a little restlessness as they wait for the venue in 1974 to be discussed. Yet for them, and the people of Christchurch, the build-up has been going on a long time. It was late in 1962 at a meeting of the Canterbury Progress League that the possibility of Christchurch playing host to the sportsmen and sportswomen of the Commonwealth was first mooted. The idea had also occur red to the Canterbury Amateur Sports Federation and at the instigation of K. J. McMENAMIN discusses the background of the bid to have Christchurch chosen as the venue for the 1974 British Commonwealth Games. these two bodies a committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy-Mayor (Mr H. P. Smith) was formed to explore the matter. In 1963 the committee gave way to Commonwealth Games Promotion (Christchurch), an incorporated society which found the idea not only feasible, but practical for as early as 1970. Last year the society changed its name to Commonwealth Games Promotion (New Zealand), the reason being that whereas Olympic Games are awarded to cities Commonwealth Games go to countries. In its early days the society sought out the best available men for the leviathan task it was embarking on and by 1964 there was no doubt that the project was off the ground and that a bid for 1970 was more than just wishful thinking. A dark eloud over the society’s planning at this stage was the fact that notwithstanding it being the host city in 1950, Auckland had also thrown its hat into the ring of 1970. It was not until 1965 almost exactly a year before the 1970 venue was decided at Jamaica—that the New Zealand Olympic and British Commonwealth Games Association chose Christchurch. Again, after Edinburgh won the vote for 1970, both Auckland and Christchurch applied to the association for its blessing for a 1974 bid, but when the Auckland City Council showed no interest that city’s application was withdrawn. Although for a while it looked as if Christchurch would run Edinburgh close in 1966, the Scottish city eventually won by 18 votes to 11. What almost certainly cost Christchurch victory was its failure to win the important nine Caribbean votes. It probably would have done so had it been prepared to drop fencing for rifle shooting on its programme, but the delegation elected to play fair and possibly won friends who should come in useful tomorrow. It might be that the loss four years ago was a blessing in disguise, as the Christchurch administrative body is now far better

geared to undertake the running of the Games than it was then. At Jamaica, Christchurch had a four-man delegation comprising the then Mayor (Sir George Manning), Mr A. I. Cottrell, who the previous year had replaced Mr Smith as chairman of the society, Mr R. S. Scott, the vice-chairman, and Mr E. H. Williams, the secretary. Mr Scott came on the society's executive as publicity officer soon after it was formed and, even before his elevation to vice-chair-man, he became the “kingpin" of the whole organisation. A skilled and persuasive orator, he streamlined the society’s activities with the same expertise which made him a top executive in a national advertising agency in his early 30s. He largely -formulated the techniques of promotion which have been the cornerstones on which Christchurch prepared its case. The aim of the society has been to reflect efficiency and in doing so convince Commonwealth countries that it has the ability to organise the Games competently. In 1968 Mr Scott attended the Mexico Olympic Games, not only to increase the knowledge gained at Jamaica, but also to remind Commonwealth countries present that: “It’s New Zealand’s turn in 74.” This slogan has been a major feature of the society's campaign and based on the contention that if the pattern is to remain unchanged on venues since the war then New Zealand is entitled to 1974. Auckland, in 1950, staged the first Commonwealth Games after the war and then followed the festivals in Vancouver, Cardiff, Perth, Kingston (Jamaica) and now Edinburgh. A southern hemisphere country should be next in line with New Zealand ahead of Australia in the queue. Over the years, the personnel and the size of the promotion executive has undergone change, although there are still 13 members of the team which set the ball rolling back in 1963 holding office. For those who have played a part, the contribution of time and effort has been considerable and as the tempo has increased in recent months the demands have become even greater. This has been especially true for the the six men who made up the Edinburgh delegation. Of all the activities undertaken to sway voters, none is likely to prove as effective as the sending of these men, in teams of two, on lobbying assignments into 30 Commonwealth countries. Nothing like this had ever been tried before and although, the costs were high the’ rewards already seem to justify the expense. Before the delegation left Christchurch only two countries (Canada and Fiji) had given a firm assurance that they would vote for the city. Reports now indicate the number has increased 10fold. In Hie frenzy of a Commonwealth Games, officials have neither the time nor the inclination to spend long periods discussing where they might be heading in four years’ time. In many cases the delegates are instructed on how to vote before they leave home, and not always by their national sports bodies. By going into these countries the delegation was able to ascertain who it had to woo, whether he be a sportsman or a politician, and was able to work on him before a directive was given from which there was no turning back. An interesting sidelight is that during its travels the delegation possibly promoted New Zealand to a greater extent than ever before in the Commonwealth. In some of the countries New Zealand was not even represented and in the belief that being forearmed was being forewarned the party carried with it information supplied by the Department of Foreign Affairs on every possible

MR A. I. COTTRELL chairman of promotion body. subject about which it might be questioned. Some delegates will go into tomorrow’s meeting with a free hand and it is these people who will—it is hoped—be still licking their lips from the luncheon of New Zealand foodstuffs that they attended on Wednesday and still marvelling at the hospitality and entertainment of tonight’s official New Zealand function. As with any election, caprice must not be overlooked. At Perth in 1962 one voter is said to have changed bis allegiance when an official with an interest in the 1966 venue was able to secure him a hotel room with a bath. The voter had felt slighted because officials of countries neighbouring his were allotted rooms with haths.

The chances of a similar windfall this year may be slight, but in the belief that winning a friend could mean winning a vote the society has left no stone unturned in its Edinburgh promotional activities. Throughout its existence, Commonwealth Games Promotion has had many problems to surmount and as with any undertaking of this size the ever-present one is finance. The New Zealand-wide raffle of a racehorse was largely responsible for the promotional work being carried out unhindered, but it is the cost of running the Games winch has dulled the enthusiasm of some people and led to opposition from the Christchurch and Suburban Ratepayers’ Association and a body calling itself the Scrub the Games Committee. Little has been heard from the latter body since it distributed 50,000 leaflets a year ago telling “fellow citizens” that they were in danger of being “taken for a ride.” It has been estimated that the cost of the 1974 Games will be $2,000,000 and a budget prepared by- the society makes provision for a profit near $30,000. The major sources of income, other than ticket sales, are: more than $200,000 from local bodies in Canterbury (11 cents a year per head of population for five years and agreed to by all but one local body); a Government grant of $200,000, plus an additional $70,000 in the event of a loss; and fund-raising by the society estimated to bring in about $250,000. The Christchurch City Council has agreed to underwrite the Games and on its head will fall much of the cost of new buildings and improvements to existing sports facilities. The most expensive item will be the swimming venue. The council has indicated its intention to roof the Cen-

tennial Pod, but many swimming officials see a new pool as the only answer with the Centennial Pool being used for diving. Another major expense will be the tartan athletic track at Lancaster Park, but it will have a high recovery rate as after the Games it can be uplifted and a buyer sought For English Park, the track cycling venue, money is already held in trust for improvements and the coun- < cil has set aside finance for, the building at a new sports ’ stadium, similar to Cowles Stadium. The society’s decision earlier this year to substitute bowls for gymnastics on its programme drew some criticism, but it was a change which could not be avoided in the light of the popularity and resources of the two sports. It was only unfortunate that the comparisons were not made earlier.