Games warm-up possible

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34099, 11 March 1976, Page 30

Games warm-up possible

t'.v.Z, -Press Assoc ij AUCKLAND. ‘ New Zealand’s athletic squad for the Montreal Olympics mayjj have three weeks of top ! international competi-IJ tion in Scandinavia be-! ‘ fore the Games. ■ ■ The world mile record-i: holder, John Walker, hash offered, if need be, to nego-[: tiate the financial aspects ofp the tour with the Scandina-H vian meeting promoters. ■ The meetings at which the] New Zealand Olympic ath-i ietic contingent could com-i pete are the annual World] Games in Helsinki and twop othef major international 1

meetings in Stockholm and; Oslo between June 20 andi July 13. The Olympics open on! July 17 with the athletic; programme scheduled to begin on July 23, so a Scandinavian tour in late June and early July could be just the answer to the problem which always confronts our i athletes immediately before • an Olympics — that of] i finding the right type of ! i competition to peak for the! ■ Games. ■ The New Zealand Amateur! I Athletic Association has cor-i ■ responded with the Scandi-; ■ navians about such a tour] jbut as yet nothing has been: i confirmed. 1 ‘‘l’m certain the Scandina-I

■ vians would accept the full' I]New Zealand Olympic team: : and pay all the necessary ! expenses,” Walker said I ; today. i “With Rod Dixon, Dick Quax and myself in the] - team we have tremendous! bargaining power. “The promoters could split: the expenses three ways,! > which would help lessen the! • financial load. !• “And I’m sure the team! :i would be well looked after! '.while there. The team could; ■j stay in their special sports] ■ training camps, where the: ■i facilities, food and accom-i rlmodation is first class, and; >; just travel to the cities for ’the three meetings.” ■I Walker said that • top

'international meeting in 'Stockholm or Oslo would' draw 20,000 spectators with j I the Helsinki World Games! ! attracting many thousands! more. •j “They turn them away at, ! the games in Stockholm as; ' the stadium’s capacity is .'only 20,000.” ,] The cost of admission! ' ranges from S 3 to $l5, soi i there is big money around. ] i! “If the N.Z.A.A.A. is hav- ! ■sing problems arranging the: fltour I could get on the ;j phone to the promoters > | tonight to see what I could ■ldo,” added Walker. li “I know them all personrally and I’m sure a deal to ! cover all the team's exj.penses could be organised.’’