Criticism of Games closing contested

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33451, 5 February 1974, Page 14

Criticism of Games closing contested

"We were ashamed to be Australians when we read that ridiculous criticism of the behaviour of Commonwealth Games competitors during the closing ceremony on Saturday by the Australian team manager (Mr W. Young),” said Mr A. J. Ducquit in Christchurch yesterday.

■ along with three other Aus-1 . tralians who had worked for! the Games. All four held a common : view that Mr Young had been . “talking through a hole in his . head” to make such remarks i as were printed on Monday. “To use that spectacle at the end really epitomised the j spirt of the friendly Games. (The way the competitors swarmed around the two !,vehicles carrying the Royal! Family was utterly spontane- i ous and I’m sure the Queen! rand Prince Philip really en-j : i joyed it. “After all just ask your- • self where else in the world: ’ that could have happened. We

“In fact he*s so far divorced from the thinking of practically everyone else concerned that it’s just not funny. We would hate his remarks to be taken as an official Australian view,” said Mr Ducquit, who is secretary of the Australian Pistol Shooting Union. Mr Ducquit, who came to New Zealand to serve on thej technical staff of the Games organisation, visited the office of “The Press” yesterday

i couldn't imagine it occurring anywhere else,” said Mr Ducquit. "Tn talking these last few days with other team officials almost without exception there was agreement that it was the finest closing spectacle yet seen,” said Mr K. Tilden, one of the other Australians. “THE FRIENDLIEST’ i “One of the Welsh officials who has been to every Games ■since 1930 said it was really the friendliest and happiest Games as well as being the first in which cars driven by volunteer drivers had been provided. Those drivers were nothing short of fantastic and I’m sure I speak for everyone who drove w’ith them.” J Mr Young’s remarks were! an insult “to the whole; team,” the Australian triple' gold medallist, Raylene Bovle,;said on her return to Sydney! !.yesterday, according to a cable message. Miss Boyle, who was, I speaking at Sydney Airport, jsaid that she felt strongly, about the remarks, “but I can't say any more.” She added that the Christ- ; church Games w f ere the most ■ friendly of the ones she had i competed in, and the atmos-i phere was bright. •ONE BIG RABBLE’ A gold medalist swimmer,! .Mike Wenden, w'ho plans ttn retire from competitive swim-! ming after a career which has! given him 10 gold medals at 'Olympic and Commonwealth Games, said that at one stage the closing ceremony seemed a “bit rough and unruly.” The 1500 metres freestyle gold medallist, Stephen Holland, said he was a little disappointed at Mr Young’s ■ criticism of the closing ceremony. "No-one behaved badly; if was just one big rabble.” he ■ said.