Sunny seats upset Australians

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33447, 31 January 1974, Page 18

Sunny seats upset Australians

“Don’t they have any sun in Australia?” This was the reaction of the chairman of the Games publicity and public relations committee (Mr D. G. Sanders) to Australian criticism yesterday of the lack of shade for competitors’ seats in the main stadium at Queen Elizabeth II Park. "It would be very hard to find a place out of the sun anywhere in the stadium in mid-afternoon,” Mr Sanders

said. "The very back rows in] the main stand, perhaps,! would be in the shade, but! the sun would be reaching them, even in the late afternoon.” Mr Sanders expressed surprise at the Australian criticism, which came from the athletics coach, Clive Lee. “All managers know of the seating arrangement made for competitors in the stadium, and have accepted: them. Athletes with an event! coming up are able to use! marquees on the warm-up] ground. "Before a batsman starts his innings, he sits in the] sun, adjusting his eyes to the light He would be un-[

wise if he sat inside the] pavilion. | “It is the same with ath-j letes. We believe that we I have made the best arrange- 1 ments for them,” Mr Sanders said. Mr Lee complained that athletes watching Tuesday’s track and field events were “Herded like sheep” into different sections of the grandstand. He said the area reserved for competitors was inadequate, and on Tuesday [some members of the public [appeared to be sitting there. I Mr Lee said that red- | coated athletics officials who [were on and off the field all the time should be moved [from their seats under cover [into an open section.

| "What if the Australian team sat in a block in the [area in which we think we [should be?” he asked. "We might just decide to do this and see if they would throw us all out.” In view of Mr Lee’s complaints, and yesterday’s searing temperature, it was fortunate for the Australians that it was a rest day on the track and field programme. Mr Scott said competitors were sitting in seats that other people had paid $8 to $lO for. They are the best available. There were also enough available for them, said Mr Scott. "Fortunately, no other countries have complained