Mr Vorster firm on sport policy

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33062, 1 November 1972, Page 3

Mr Vorster firm on sport policy

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright >

PRETORIA, October 31. The Prime Minister of South Africa (Mr John Vorster) last night defended his country’s sports policies, and said he was not prepared to sacrifice the “highest interests” of the republic for the sake of sport.

Speaking at a dinner; at which he was presented with a gold-medal by the South African i Federation for Youth ; and Sport in recognition: of his contribution to | sport, Mr Vorster added that he refused to “pursue a policy acceptable to ■ Communists and their! fellow travellers.” Saying he had done his best to promote sport locally as well as internationally, Mr Vorster added: “It is said that we are being pushed out of international sport by the Communists.

“But I certainly will not change South Africa’s attitude and way of life just to accommodate the Communists and their fellow travellers, because if we give • in to their wishes it will no . longer be worth while to practise sport in South Africa . at any level.” The Prime Minister said he . was aware that many sports personalities probably dis- ’ agreed with his views. But , he emphasised that sport was ; primarily recreation. Mr Vorster said he was ! prepared to go along with the

people concerned in sport, and would go out of his way to overcome the objections of reasonable people.

“But I am not prepared; to sacrifice the highest interests of South Africa for the sake of sport. We as a country cannot, and il personally will not, pursue *a policy which is acceptable to Communists and their fellow travellers.” Speaking at the same function, the Minister of Sport and Recreation (Dr Piet Koomhof) ’said that South Africa’s so-called isolation in international sport was being exaggerated. Since the beginning of 1972, the Minister said, 65 overseas sportsmen or sports teams had taken part in 38 types of sport in the Republic. In addition, South Africans had made 122 visits to other countries to take part in 32 types of sporting events.

These figures related only to amateur sport, Dr Koomhof added, and represented a record total.