Late problems at one Games venue

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33427, 8 January 1974, Page 1

Late problems at one Games venue

By

R. M. CAIRNS)

While the Queen Elizabeth II Park complex continues to receive glowing praise, the other major ’’new stadium, Denton Park, continues to offend the eye.

Cycling officials and enthusiasts, from Canterbury and trom other parts of New Zealand, make no secret of their disappointment over the lack of progress on the facilities and surrounds at the track cycling venue.

Mr H. €. Blazey, chairman of the sports 1 committee for the Games and who is 1 ultimately concerned with the state of the various venues, admitted yesterday he was 11 disappointed with the present condition ol Denton Park.

“Things haven't gone as! we would have wished—it! i does concern us.” said Mrj Blazey. “It has concerned us| that jobs promised for com-; pletion by now have not! heen done. People go on holi-l days and our hands are tied.”! these comments were endorsed by Mr H. R. Dutton, director for cycling at the Games. “I am aware of Harry Blazey’s frustration; we all share it,” said Mr Dutton. “It is just a matter of getting contractors motivated, and I would appeal to the people who are doing the 1 work to do their job. I would ' not like them to leave us in ' the position of the work being done on the last day.” Unfortunate comparisons are now being made between Denton Park and the Meadowbank Velodrome. , (where track cycling was held in Edinburgh. Work was still taking place in the week of ii the opening ceremony at(] Edinburgh: the temporary!] stand had still not been com-,] pleted the day before theft ceremon y. | < But Denton Park is a farj worse sight, and more un-|; comfortable. A number of < complaints, of varying nature. ( have been made by cycling! (people who, in most cases ; (do not wish to be named!, (because they have from time If 'to time been told not to rock Is | the boat. |i

Mr Blazey replies il Some of these matters.! with Mr Blazey’s comments I] and explanations, are:— The bailey bridge over the ; track is an ugly structure, i erected as an exercise by the i Army and needed because a i permanent bridge or tunnel < —costed at $lO,OO0 —was not agreed to by the Paparua

County Council. As this is now history, Mr Blazey had no comment to make; Mr Dutton hoped it would be painted—but with hay-bales round the bottom, its appearance is unlikely to be improved. [ Spectators continue to shiiver in the new stand when | the prevailing easterly blows, iThose experienced in the ‘ways of Denton Park i thoughtfully created windbreaks of blankets along the ! eastern end. Mr Blazey’s comment: “We are only too pleased the council built this stand.” The boards on which the plastic moulded seats are affixed in the stand are lifting. Mr Blazey: There was a similar problem at Queen Elizabeth II Park, which meant glueing some of these again. The problem has been cured. More towers The additional lighting towers at the eastern end of the stand have still to be erected. Mr Blazey: These will go up next week, and the lights on the towers (opposite will be redirected to J I provide the necessary extra ; ilighting on the track just! (past the finish line. The elec-1 ! tricians say there will be J (sufficient lighting. However, many believe an I (additional track light — asi 'opposed to a stadium light. — (will be needed for that area. The boards on the temporlary stand were lifted by i wind-gusts on Sunday and [flung halfway down the stand. Mr Blazey: This stand its not finished, so it is difficult to criticise. Besides, it ihas to pass a building in- | spector. 1 Unsightly markings, left by trickles of muddy water, were on the track more than a month ago and are still there. Mr Blazey: I’ll take a note of that — the whole track must be properly cleaned.

He had the same comment to make about the handful of rusty nails gathered by an official on Sunday from the edge of the track.

The control tower is not finished, and the surrounds are barren of grass — in spite of efforts to grow some. Mr Blazey: We had a guarantee the tower would be finished by December 31, and I am confident it will be, in good time. “Good time” he defined as the end of next week. Concrete slabs or some sort of paving will almost certainly be laid around the control (tower, not just for aesthetic reasons but also for the comfort of officials.

“Cow paddock” The centre-green is frequently referred to as a cow paddock.. When there is grass, it is long and scruffy. Mr Blazey: This is a genuine problem and no-one’s fault. The council could not get its gang-mowers in to the centre because of the stands, but I believe they may be able to get them in, perhaps tomorrow.” The announcers’ box is still the same shell it was at the national championships six weeks ago. Mr Blazey: It is not required until the Games. The “road” (“track”) into [the competitors’ huts’ area is pot-holed and rutted, slushy after rain. Mr Blazey: We will see Paparua about this.

The southern (outside) steps on the Bailey bridge are not erected yet. but that is for security reasons. On the brighter side, the team huts — more expansive and more comfortable than those at Edinburgh — are completed, but the scruffiness of their area is highlighted by a smashed fence pole at the gate between there and the stand area.

It makes a depressing sight, and one North Island journalist not noted for his sympathy for cycling, was moved to comment on Saturday: “I feel sorry for cycling: they’ve been done on the cheap, and they’re even getting the worst deal from television.”