Application for 1982 swimming titles

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33819, 16 April 1975, Page 22

Application for 1982 swimming titles

An application to hold the 1982 world championships will be made by the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, it was decided at its council meeting last evening. On April 5, the association was forced to withdraw an application for the 1978 championships because of a refusal by the Government to grant visas to a Taiwan team.

The chairman (Mr M. R. Duckmanton) read a letter from the president ,of F.I.N.A. (Dr H. W. Henning), who said he was disappointed that New Zealand had to withdraw its application for the 1978 titles.

“I have gone on record publicly in saying that the facilities in Christchurch would do justice to a world swimming championships. I have also gone on record as to stating that the organisation and the people behind it could do an excellent job in conducting these championships,” Dr Henning said. “In my personal opinion the brochure that you have submitted is the best that we -have received from any of I our would-be hosts. ' “I should also like to state that had this obstacle not 'been there that I am sure other members of the F.I.N.A. (bureau, along with me, would (have acted very favourably on your candidacy.” i Speaking on the Gov’ernment’s decision, Mr G. S. (Brockett said that it was an (absolute disgrace. “Sport in New Zealand is controlled by politics. I think a bill for all costs and expenses to date should be sent to the Government.”

“As long as governments are dishing out money for sport, I will be amazed if they don’t have a finger in the pie,” Mr S. Williams said.

A move to ask the Government to pay the costs incurred in promoting the championships was lost.

I Pacific event.—A feasibility study of the possibility | of holding a Pacific Bowl ] tournament in New Zealand next year will be made by ithe council. Last year the [association proposed a

similar meeting but it was overtaken by the New Zealand Games.

Suspended.—Six of the seven members of the Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay team at the national championships in Christchurch in March have been suspended until May 31 by their centre. Each member was also fined $2 to pay a dry-cleaning bill at the team’s motel. Officials.— Mr R. N. Smith (Timaru), a member of the council, has been appointed manager of the team to the world championships in Cali, Colombia in July, and Mr A. J. Cotterill (Napier) will be the coach.

Invitation.—Hungary has asked if New Zealand would be interested in sending a team to an international meeting in Budapest early next year. It is hoped it will be a week before the Coca-Cola meeting in England. The association will reply saying it is interested.