GYMNASTS’ TOUR Russians for Chch, Dec 24

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33539, 21 May 1974, Page 26

GYMNASTS’ TOUR Russians for Chch, Dec 24

Thirty Russian gymnasts, including members of the Munich Olympic team, will make a whistle-stop tour of New Zealand in December, but the New Zealand Gymnastic Association is disappointed that it has not been consulted.

Edgley and Dawe, the promoters who brought the Moscow Circus to New Zealand, are bringing the gymnasts, who will give exhibitions in the three main centres, including Wilding Park, Christchurch, on Christmas Eve.

The president of the national association (Mr B. J. Ryan) said the association was informed earlier in the year that the Russians might be coming. It had tried to contact the Russian Gymnastic Federation to arrange competition with New Zealand gymnasts, but had had no reply. It had not had any communication from the promoters either. Both Russia and New Zealand are affiliated to the International Gymnastic Fed-

eration, and their gymnasts come under the rules of the federation. If New Zealand wished it could bar the Russians from performing here under the rules of the federation.

But Mr Ryan said that the association would not make such a move for the sake of the sport in New Zealand. "Having the Russians here will be good advertising for us,” he said.

“We regret the lack of opportunity of working in with the promoters. I feel we could have been of some assistance to them," Mr Ryan said.

The New Zealand representative for Edgley and Dawe (Mr A. J. Goodliffe) I said he did not think there would be any problems with the tour, even though two of the performances were scheduled for outdoor venues ;—Stanley Street in Auckland and Wilding Park. The Wellington venue is the Winter Show building. The performances will be lon December 22, 23, and 24. starting in Auckland and ending in Christchurch, and there would be no time to expose New Zealand gymnasts to the visitors.

Mr Goodliffe could not say whether the full range of men’s and women’s apparatus would be used.

Among those expected to be in the team is Olga Korbut the little gold medallist who was so very popular with the public at the Munich Olympics.