More arrive for the Olympics

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33004, 25 August 1972, Page 18

More arrive for the Olympics

(N.Z.P.A. staff correspondents)

MUNICH.

More than 1000 officials and competitors from 21 countries due in Munich will boost the total to around 7500 from 110 countries. The final figure has been estimated at 12,000 from 130 countries.

The 1.0. C. congress is, meanwhile, continuing its prolonged session at the Maximilianeum — seat of the Bavarian Parliament — and will consider proposals to cut down the programme at future Olympics. Some delegates feel the Games have become unmanageable. There are proposals that the finals of all team games should be reduced from 16 to 12 qualifying nations. There is also some feeling that the number of individual competitors allowed in each event should be reduced from three to two for each country. The venue for the 1978

British Commonwealth Games — between Edmonton, Canada, and Leeds, England —will also be discussed.

It appears that Leeds will be the winner.

The youngest member of the New Zealand rowing team, Athol Earl, had the news broken to him that his father had died suddenly in Switzerland. Mr Peter Earl, a farmer from Hawarden, North Canterbury, was on the way to Munich to see his son row in the New Zealand eight. His mother will complete the journey to Munich and Earl will still row. ss # ss

The hockey match against France is the New Zealand squad’s final match before it meets Australia in the first Olympic match on Sunday. New Zealand lost 1-2 against Pakistan in a tight and even match with the defending champion, and Australia beat Argentine 3-0.

Two of the hockey players are nursing injuries. T. Borren, who was cracked across the shin, received prompt medical treatment for the nasty bruising and has his leg bandaged. J. Archibald visited a dentist to have his teeth looked at after having a couple loosened when also hit with a hockey stick. If New Zealand’s work *n and around the circle had been just a little better, the result could easily have been reversed.

Both Pakistan’s goals were scored in play developing from penalty corners, and the winning goal was not scored until five minutes before full time. -7: & 4s

The track and field competition—glamour side of the 15-day £2som Games—should set new peaks of performance and the latest practice session in the Olympic stadium gave two of the favourites a chance to shine.

The Kenyan, K. Keino, de-

fending his 1500 metres title, sharpened up his speed by running the 800 metres in Imin 46.41 sec—his fastest yet While Keino’s loping stride devoured the Tartan track, the American, G. Woods, confirmed his rating as favourite for the shot put title with a massive heave of 70ft |in. A. Polhill ran the fastest 800 metres of his career in Imin 49.105ec though his effort was overshadowed by Keino. Miss S. Haden was disappointed with her time for 800 metres of 2min 6.s6sec—over 2sec outside her best—when she was hoping for a fast time. Miss B. Matthews, with 11.945ec for the 100 metres hurdles, and B. Smith, with 21.375ec for the 200 metres, were both outside their best times.

I. Ballinger’s tremendous prone small-bore score of 598 equalled his career best. His score unofficially equalled the world record and was out of

a 600 possible. Conditions are perfect, he says. The rapidfire pisol shooter, B. McMillan, had a score of 588, which the manager said had made him happy.

New Zealand’s sole judoka entrant, R. Littlewood, learnt his draw for the Games. He will fight in the middleweight section, and has a bye through the first round arid will meet A. Adamczyk, of Poland, in the second. Littlewood is a fourth dan and Adamczyk a second dan. If Littlewood wins his first two bouts —and according to his manager, Mr J. Fielding, there is a good chance he will—he is then likely to come up against the hot favourite among the 35 contenders for the title, Japan’s S. Sekine, in a semi-final.

Drag charges.—Two swimmers dropped from the British Olympic team for “disciplinary” reasons will be prosecuted for an alleged drugs offence, say the police. R. Terrell, aged 19, and T. Tozer, aged 22, will be charged with being unlawfully in possession of cannabis.