Canada’s eyes on Montreal

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33439, 22 January 1974, Page 28

Canada’s eyes on Montreal

Canada has embarked on an extensive coaching programme to improte its standard of athletics. In the last six months, four coaches have been imported, and a plan has been drawn up for the 1976 Olympic Games at Montreal.

[ The former Olympic long [jump champion, Lynn Davie? of Wales, who was hired lasi June as the technical direc tor, is the main coach of the Canadian athletics team fothe Commonwealth Games ir Christchurch.

Helping Mr Davies arc the three other new coaches, an Englishman, David Boosey i(jumping), a Pole, John Mach (sprints), and a Frenchman, Jean Paul Baert (throwing). Mr Boosey said the plan involved obtaining as much competition as possible for the athletes, and setting up an extensive coaching sv?tem.

“We want the scheme to be long term and to go furi ther than the Olympic Game in 1976 and the Common 'wealth Games at Edmonton in 1978. We are working to ■ a pyramid structure — to obI tain a broad base of athletes [ and then work from there. ’ [he said. i “I’m sure with this system, [the standard in Canada will improve,” Mr Boosey said. “Even in Christchurch there is a lot of team spirit as the athletes can already see the system evolving.” Mr Boosey said that Canadian athletes would have the opportunity to compete overseas again in July and August. “We will be taking a team to Europe for training and competition. “The tour will finish in Paris with another training camp and competition against France and Germany.” he said. The tours would become a regular part of the programme, Mr Boosey said.