No African Boycott

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

No African Boycott

(N.Z. Press Association) EDINBURGH, July 20.

African countries would not boycott the 19 74 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, the general secretary of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (Mr Abraham Ordia, of Nigeria) said in Edinburgh last night after Christchurch was awarded the games.

“We are looking forward to the Gaines in Christchurch in 1974.” Mr Ordia said. "I sincerely hope that the people in that country will not precipitate any problems for us or themselves.” He did not want to think about 1974 now. “Anything might happen between now and then,” he said. “South Africa may even change its policy on apartheid.”

Mr Ordia said he had not minded which country was awarded the next Games. “They are both Commonwealth countries,” he said. “They are both friendly countries. We did not mind which on' won.” Before the decision was made a move by Nigeria appealing to member countries of the Commonwealth Games Federation to refrain from

future sporting exchanges with South Africa failed, instead an English amendment deploring discrimination and its effect on sport was passed by 20 votes to 16. A further resolution of politics in sport was passed unanimously. It read: “Every British Commonwealth country shall do everything within its power to avoid any interference by its Government in a manner to conflict with the rules of the British Commonwealth Games.” Australia did not escape the censure of African nations during discussion of the Nigerian resolution. New Zealand and England were named in the resolution, which drew attention to sporting contacts between South Africa and the two Commonwealth nations. Mr Ordia said his country left Australia out of the resolution because of a decision by the Australian Athletic Union not to send athletes to South Africa Subsequently, however, Nigeria had become aware of other sporting contacts between South Africa and Australia. Mr Ordia said he wanted South Africa completely isolated in sport. “But other countries said they had no control over the policies of their sporting associations,” he said. “We accepted this. “This is not a time for

shouting here. You have to give and take. It was a friendly meeting, but we think a new method of closing the doors on South African sport should be given a trial.”

Only through a policy of no sporting relationships with South Africa could South African sportsmen bring pressure to bear on their country to change apartheid in sport. “We feel strongly that as long as the Commonwealth countries continue sporting associations with South Africa it will never abandon apartheid,” Mr Ordia said.