Planning For Games To Start

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32354, 21 July 1970, Page 18

Planning For Games To Start

Definite plans would now be made for the holding of the 1974 Qommonwealth Games in Christchurch, the deputy Mayor (Mr H. P. Srnfith) said in a statement yesterday.

A committee comprising sports organisation representatives and local body officers would be set up to plan the organisation of the games, which were officially planned to run from January 24 to February 2, 1974, he said. Yesterday, when the awarding of the Games to Christchurch was announced, wes a great day for the city, and most citizens would be delighted at the decision, Cr Smith said. “Christchurch has been working towards this end for eight years. The city sent the then Mayor, Sir Gaorge Manning, to Jamaica in 1966 to join the team which made a strong bid for the Gaines to be held here this year, and

various activities have continued since." The team which had worked so bard to get the Games for Christchurch deserved congratulations on their thoroughness and on the successful result, Cr Smith said. “Two Schools” “There appear to be two schools of thought among those who have reservations about the Games. One of these objects to the expenditure. , ' “The money problem is not as difficult as it might appear. The Government has promised a substantial figure, and it may well be that the Games Association will have to ask for this to be increased. “Various fund-raising activities are planned, and nearly all the local bodies in Canterbury have promised flnancial support. The cost to ratepayers is about 11c a head a year for five years." Cr Smith said. “The other school of thought comprises those who believe that the intrusion of political issues into sport and the attitude of some of the younger members of the Commonwealth has taken the real meaning out of the term ‘games.’ “There is some hope to be

■ found in the fact that Christchurch has been I awarded the Games notwith- ' standing the South African ■ tour of the AH Blacks, and I • would hope that New Zealand ■ will be bold enough and strong enough to revive the true spirit of the Games—to make them a keen but ' friendly contest in sport 1 among those of us who still I have some pride in belonging to the British Common- ’ wealth," Cr Smith said. “I believe this is what the 1 great majority of New Zea- ■ landers want. 1 think our average citizen has his views 1 about apartheid, but he does 1 not want them to affect his 1 sporting contacts. "On the credit side for ■ Christchurch, there is the en- ' couraging fact that the pro- • vision of additional facilities for sport will be speeded up, ‘ in particular the roofing of • the Centennial Pool,” Cr Smith said. “This is long . overdue." “In addition to the impetus ! given to sport by the presence . of competitors of international ' standard, there are obvious 1 benefits to the touri I Indusj try and the business communi ity and one would expect this decision to hasten the erection > of a large hotel in the centre - of the city. Standards Sought “New Zealand, and Christchurch in particular, can expect to receive tremendous publicity from the event I think there is a grea' opportunity for New Zealand to set an example on the conduct of the Games and the standards which should govern them.

“What has been said about factors which would have influenced the decision is best forgotten. “Personally I consider it a matter for regret that apparently it is necessary to buy votes with large quantities of food and liquor—none of these, I hasten to say, out of local body funds. “It would be a fine thing if New Zealand could establish a standard in which the next decision, which will be made in Christchurch, could be made in an atmosphere of keen but friendly rivalry and on a basis whereby the Games moved to different parts of the Commonwealth in a fair and practical way,” Cr Smith said.