Confusion over Brazil’s ban

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34045, 8 January 1976, Page 2

Confusion over Brazil’s ban

(N.Z.P.A.Reuter—Copyright) RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 7.

Two South Africans competed in Brazil’s second open deep-sea fishing tournament today, causing even greater confusion about Brazil’s attitude towards sports links with South Africa.

The participation of Harry Birkhead and Don Vinnicombe caused particular surprise since the event .is not an official international tournament and the South Africans are the guests of the yacht club of Espirito Santo, north of Rio de Janeiro.

The issue of Brazil’s sports relations with South Africa came to a head last week when the Government first banned, and then finally permitted “on an exceptional basis,” this year’s Cape to Rio yacht race which will begin on Saturday. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said yesterday that the Ministry was expected to clarify soon the scope of a reported general ban on sports ties with South Africa. This stems from Brazil’s opposition to apartheid, expressed in its support for a United Nations resolution calling for a sports boycott of South Africa.

Sports sources had said the ban was not expected to be applied to international events, but to bilateral meetings requiring the presence of Brazilian athletes in South Africa or the invitation of South African athletes to Brazil.

Hence, they said, it was not likely to stop the racing driver, Emerson Fittipaldi, from competing in the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami in March, because this was part of the world racing championships. But the presence of two South African fishermen in the tournament off Vitoria, in Esperito Santo state, appears to be just the sort of event to be covered by the ban especially as the two were invited to take part by a Brazilian organisation.