N.Z. GAMES LIKELY IN JANUARY

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33532, 13 May 1974, Page 3

N.Z. GAMES LIKELY IN JANUARY

A New Zealand (James, along the lines proposed by the chairman of the Commonwealth (lames. Organising Committee i.Vlr R. S. Scott), is likely to be staged in Christchurch next January.

A meeting’ to discuss the idea was held in Christchurch on Saturday morning, ami alter it the chairman (Mr H. C. Blazey) said that the games "looked to he on.”

He said there was enthusiastic support from representatives of what are suggested as the two major sports — athletics and swimming. The representatives said that they would be happy to amend their programmes to fit in with the games. In the case of athletics this would mean having tn Christchurch for the games the 10 top overseas athletes (six men and four women) who will be invited to tour New Zealand next summer, and swimming will merely incorporate its planned Pacific Bowl meeting in the games. Mr Blazey said the thinking of the meeting was that the games should be biennial, last about four days, and that next year’s should end about January 25. (In his proposal

■Mr Scott suggested that New Zealand Day, February 6, might be used, but Mr Blazey said that this date may clash with indoor track meetings overseas.) ■ - The next step, said Mr Blazey, was for Commonwealth Games Promotion to see if it could finance the setting up of'a secretariat, with a staff of probably two, i to get the planning started. Mr A. I. Cottrell, the chair- : man of that body, was at the meeting on Saturday and agreed to report back within : two weeks. His organisation has money coming to it from the Games Organising Com•mittee which would be sufficient to meet the costs. OTHER SPORTS? Once this had been determined, another meeting of those who were present on Saturday would be held and work would begin in earnest, said Mr Blazey., Then it would-be decided if a third, and possibly a fourth, sport would be invited to take part. “All we want to do is get the scheme off the ground,” said Mr Blazey. “It. is not just for athletics, swimming, and Christchurch only. Other ■ centres and other sports ,could come in and, in fact, |we would be delighted if they did.” As to the financing, Mr i Blazey said he believed this i could be done without too