Games Selectors Clash With Assn Chairman

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32379, 19 August 1970, Page 14

Games Selectors Clash With Assn Chairman

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. Members of the Commonwealth Games selection panel clashed with the chairman of the national association (Mr C. L. S. Cross) last night on the role of section managers once the games team has left New Zealand.

In an exchange that became heated at times, Messrs P. N. Robinson and J. W. Holley insisted that athletes should concentrate their efforts on the event for which they were selected and not in other events for which they might also have been nominated.

However, Mr Cross said the team manager must have the right to decide in which event the athlete should give his major effort if asked for a decision. Mr Robinson cited the example of the woman athlete, Mrs Sylvia Potts. While sympathising with her tragic fall just short of the line in the 1500 metres, which robbed her of a gold medal, Mr Robinson said she had been, sent primarily to run in the 800 metres. Gave “It a Go” “This was her No. 1 event. Yet, only hours before she was due to run in it, she took part in the 1500 metres, for which she was not the first nomination and not the national champion.” Mr Cross said Mrs Potts had made the decision to “give it a go” in the 1500 metres when she was feeling so strong only 200 metres from the finish. Mr Robinson and Mr Cross also clashed over the decision of cycling officials to allow two extra cyclists to compete in the road race. Assurance Given “Two days after the team was announced, a cycling official said two extra men would ride in the road race. After consultations with the cycling association we were assured this would not happen, yet when they got to Edinburgh, the cycling officials announced

the two would ride,” Mr Robinson said. Mr Cross said the decision to add the two men to the race had been made after consultations between himself, the 6 eneral manager (Mr J. cManemin) and cycling officials. “The cyclists felt that as the track racing programme of these two riders had finished, they could be of assistance in shielding the main contenders for the race in the early stages—and this they did most efficiently, with the result of a gold medal for New Zealand.**

Mr Robinson said the selection panel went to a lot of trouble in selecting the team, and if section managers were going to be allowed to interfere with the team overseas it would wreck the whole selection panel system. Tying Manager’s Hands Mr Cross said if the association wanted to tie the hands of the manager so rigidly it might as well not send a manager. “It must be left for the men on the spot to decide,’’ he added. The executive unanimously passed a motion endorsing the principle of “discretion of management.” The Games selectors wefe also critical of boxers and weightlifters failing to make their correct weights at the Games. Mr Robinson said that in the case of the boxer, A. Afakasi, who had to move up a division because he was a pound overweight at the official weigh-in, the selectors had been assured at the time of selection he would be able to make the light

welter-weight grade for which he was selected. “insufficient Control” “The fact that he did not cannot be excused, and must not happen again,*’ Mr Robinson said. “Similarly, with the weightlifters, one had to move up a grade and the other was said to have been dehydrated because of the great difficulty he had had in making the weight.” Mr Cross agreed, and said the boxing case highlighted the need to send officials to the games who were fully aware of International rules and regulations. “It appears insufficent control was exercised,” he added. All Honest Efforts Any failures among members of the New Zealand team at Edinburgh were for medical reasons. the team manager (Mr McManemin) said in his report. He criticised press reports he had seen since returning to New Zealand, denouncing the team and its performance. He said all performances at Edinburgh were honest and severe. Team members gave of their utmost and an analysis of individual performances, when compared with standards set and requested by Games selectors. found the majority fulfilling their task, and in many cases exceeding national efforts. Mr McManemin said the potential of many members of the team was obvious, and if they could develop greater determination and lose a certain inferiority complex, the people were there to rewrite the record book.