Outside Help For Games Bid By Christchurch

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32354, 21 July 1970, Page 26

Outside Help For Games Bid By Christchurch

(N ZPA. Staff Correspondent} EDINBURGH, July 20. The work of Scottish and Welsh sports officials in promoting the bid by Christchurch for the 1974 Commonwealth Games was praised last night by the chairman of the Christchurch promotional group, Mr R. S. Scott.

Amid scenes of jubilation at the group’s Edinburgh hotel last night Mr Scott said the group eased its promotional work three days ago because of the work other countries were doing for it.

“We took it easy because we could see that the efforts of the others, notably the Scots and the Welsh, were producing good results,” he said.

When the news of the deci- ■ sion that Christchurch was to | stage the 1974 Games became | known New Zealanders from . all parts of Edinburgh flocked > to the group’s hotel. Officials of the national Commonwealth Games team also joined in the celebrations. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr A. R. Guthrey) said the decision was tremendous news. “This is one of the great moments for our city and we look forward to entertaining the many people who will come to Christchurch for this great sporting festival,” he said.

A number of Australian sporting officials were present at the celebrations. The Australian delegate to the Commonwealth Games Federation meeting (Mr B. W. Young) praised the Christchurch effort “They did a tremendous job,” he said. Mr Scott said it was a re-

• lief to know that the great i amount of work done had pro- , duced the right result “Tonight we have had cal--1 lers from just about every I Commonwealth Games delegai tion,” he said. “From what they have said they seem to be even more delighted than 1 we are. Even the Australians have shown that they will be very strong supporters of the Games in 1974.” Mr Scott said the Australians Md even offered to help in any way they could. “We are extremely pleased

at the' size ,of the majority and think that this will give confidence to all of those people and organisations who will now be required to take part in the running of the Games,” he said. “Obviously we have the support of people from all sectors of the Commonwealth. The real work and success was achieved by the delegation of six which travelled through 30 Commonwealth countries and was able to

make contact with sports officials in depth.” Mr Scott said it was a great team effort. MOst of the team would continue to take an interest in the organising of the Games.

British journalists who met Mr Scott were particularly interested in future South African cricket or Rugby tours in New Zealand.

Asked if his group would seek to influence other sporting bodies over games with South Africa, he said: “In New Zealand sporting bodies are sovereign and separate. Presently we have have a multi-racial Rugby team in South Africa. I would not try to apply pressure on the New Zealand Rugby Union in any way.”

There had been no guarantees given to African countries about New Zealand sporting contacts with South Africa in the future, he said. “1 think you under-estimate the African countries," he said. “They do not have closed minds on the subject of apartheid in South Africa and were prepared to listen to our point of view. I think it is fair to say that we (New Zealand) agree with them on principle but differ on tactics over apartheid." Mr Scott said he thought many of the African countries saw merit in the New Zealand approach of sending multiracial teams to South Africa. “At present we have a multi-racial team playing in South Africa,” he said. “In the future I am sure that we will see multi-racial teams from both countries playing there."