Games complex seen as national stadium

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32892, 15 April 1972, Page 1

Games complex seen as national stadium

A desire to see the sports complex at Queen Elizabeth II Park become a national asset, rather than just a Christchurch or Canterbury one, was expressed yesterday by the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (Mr R. S. Scott).

Mr Scott, who emphasised that he was speaking in a private capacity, said that for the swimming pool and the track-and-field stadium to be fully used after the Games they would have to become the national headquarters of both sports.

“Both are beyond the normal requirements for a city the size of Christchurch, or for that matter Canterbury or the South Island.” Mr Scott said that he would like to see the Government, the Christchurch local bodies and the two sports involved combine to have the complex recognised as a national stadium. Extra outlay “This would mean that additional money would have to be spent, but with the investment as large as it is—about s4m—a little more would be worth-while. Asked how he saw the park being used, Mr Scott said that he envisaged it as the administration headquarters of swimming—already the case in Christchurch—and that both sports would use it extensively for training i

schools and coaches* seminars. He said that by making the complex a national facility it would be the venue for more national and international : matches. • Mr Scott said he was coni cemed only with ensuring i that the complex was given i maximum use. If not, there I was a danger that the facilities might become run-down. Mayor enthusiastic Re said he had told the > Mayor of Christchurch (Mr - N. G. Pickering) of his plan •and Mr Pickering had rei ceived the idea with enthusiasm. : “For both swimimng and I track and field, the Queen I Elizabeth Park venues will be i the best in New Zealand for > many years to come. It would I be a big thing If they could ibe recognised as national [assets,” Mr Scott said.