Australia Games sought

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33454, 8 February 1974, Page 13

Australia Games sought

C’ Z Press Assn. —copyright) SYDNEY. ; The Australian Gov-j ernnient will be officially asked to follow the successful Canadian sys-; tern of financing sport and to introduce a biennial Australia Gaines. Mr G. Paciullo, the Labour Party spokesman on sport in the New South Wales Parliament, said yesterday that he would officially approach the Federal Minister for Tourism and Recreation (Mr F. Stew-’ art) with the proposal. Mr Paciullo said Canada’s! success at the Common- j wealth Games in Christ-: church was proof of the success of the system. “In 1958, Canada could ; muster only one gold medal,' and :t has risen since to two in 1962. 14 in 1966, 18 in 1 1970 and now 25 at Christchurch,” he said. Mr Paciullo. a sporting ad- j ministrator and Dans Cup tennis umpire, has been i studying overseas sporting systems, and had informal; talks with the Canadian Min-i ister of National Health and; Welfare (Mr M. Lalonde) in Sydney this week. Mr Lalonde had said the Canadian Government’s system cost Slsm and included ! a national administrative! centre in Ottawa for sport ! and recreation, housing 34! national sporting organis-i a’ions, with a coaching asso-! ciation, aimed at improving coaching techniques, and the > Canadian Academy of Sports' Medicine, to provide Canadian teams with the best! medical services available. There is a panel of judges to choose a group of up-and-i coming athletes who can be subsidised in training and coaching in their respective sports, and a Canada Games every two years to give all!

’athletes the experience of top ! competition and to help provide facilities in regional ! areas.