‘Great occasion for Commonwealth’

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33450, 4 February 1974, Page 16

‘Great occasion for Commonwealth’

“A great occasion for New Zealand and for the Common* wealth and, in particular, for those people who believe in keeping links within the Commonwealth strong.”

So said the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committe (Mr R. S. Scott) when asked on Saturday evening to measure the success of the Games. Mr Scott said that two of the things which had impressed him most were the great pride New Zealanders had shown in their own country and the great sportsmanship of the. crowds at all the venues. “The 1500 metres race was just one example of how quick the crowd was to

appreciate a great performance — and this was general throughout the nine days,” Mr Scott said. “It has not only been New Zealanders who have been cheered, but the competitors of all countries. I have certainly been proud to be a New Zealander at these Games,” he said. HEAVY DEMANDS He hoped that the Games had brought something out in New Zealanders, while at the same time encouraging sportsmen and sportswomen, particularly the younger ones, to greater achievements.

; Mr Scott said that the running of the Games had I made heavy demands on the time and skill of many New Zealanders, and everyone involved had a right to be proud of the contribution he or she had made. “It has been unusual to hear so many New Zealanders speak with pride of a job done by New Zealanders and this, in itself, is reason for satisfaction. “Staging the Games was a big undertaking, but I truly believe that all the effort has been worth while. We have proved we could do it and do it well, and this must be rewarding to all the hundreds of people who played a part,” Mr Scott said. WINDING UP While the Games were over, the Organising Committee had still a lot of work to do and he expected the winding-up operation to take about four months, said Mr Scott. He was confident that committee members would tackle this task with the same enthusiasm and attention to detail as they had given to the planning of the Games. As to his, own future, Mr Scott said that he had no job lined up, nor had he given any serious thought to the tvpe of work he might do. However, he was adamant that he had no interest whatsoever in going into politics. Mr Scott said he expected that he would be working full-time on Games business for at least another two months.