Sweating for action

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33433, 15 January 1974, Page 24

Sweating for action

The ageing sports pavilion on the University of Canterbury recreation grounds has become an essential facility for some athletes competing in the Commonwealth Games.

For the Games, the pavilion has been converted to a

weight-training centre, and as more athletes arrive at the village the centre receives more customers.

The centre puts emphasis on weight training for fitness building, but its weightreducing aspects is also attracting customers. Ten saunas have been installed for use by the athletes. The big problem is the food served at the Games

lining rooms. According to the manager (Mr R. D. Webster), athletes have been coming to the centre after eating and finding they are overweight.

“Some members of the English wrestling team found themselves three and four kilograms ’ overweight, so they went straight into the saunas to sweat the surplus off. "A Northern Ireland weight-lifter found himself nine kilograms or 20 pounds overweight, and he is going to diet, as well as taking a lot of saunas.” Mr Webster said the centre was an essential part of the Games sytem. For competitors restricted by weight conditions, the quickest way to lose some pounds is in a sauna.

The centre was opened last week after 10 days of preparation by Mr Webster. He installed electrical fittings, built lifting platforms and stands for the two weighttraining rooms, and borrowed equipment from schools and health centres in Christchurch. NO SEGREGATION

There are six saunas for women and four for men, and Mr Webster does not worry about segregation. “We have had a husband and wife in the same room, and both sexes are free to use them at any time.” Mr Webster has had some amusing times with the African competitors. “Some of them have never seen a sauna before, and it needed some explanation and coax* ing before they used them.” Mr Webster said that up to yesterday between 50 and 60 athletes had been visiting each day, and “I expect it to get busier.” The centre is being staffed voluntarily by Christchurch student teachers.