Chances of N.Z. Games changed by walk-out

Press, 7 August 1976, Page 52

Chances of N.Z. Games changed by walk-out

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

These are difficult days for the New Zealand Games Organising Committee as it works towards giving Christchurch, next January, its third major sporting festival in four years.

The committee has given itself a task which may be thwarted by international events beyond its control. It cannot predict the future, nor can it afford to mark time waiting to see what will happen.

The deadline set by the committee two months ago for countries to reply to their invitations is Monday, and so far five countries of a total 19 have replied. These replies take in 12 sports and the majority are definite acceptances. There have been no refusals. The willing countries, which all made their intentions known before the Montreal Olympics, are Australia, (athletics, swimming and gymnastics), West Germany (swimming), Japan (athletics, swimming and weight-lifting), United Kingdom (athletics, swimming and weight-lifting) and the United States (athletics and swimming). This leaves 14 countries, or 25 sports bodies, unaccounted for. However, it was

never expected that the deadline would carry much weight. It was set in the hope of instilling some urgency and possibly give some guide to the shaping of a programme. The committee was well aware that in recent weeks most overseas national sports bodies would be too preoccupied with the Olympics to give much thought to sending teams to Christchurch in January. But, of course, the situation is very different now than when the committee sent its invitations in June. The chairman (Mr M. F. Hunter) acknowledged yesterday that the walk-out at Montreal added “an entirely new ingredient to the mixture.”

Previously, finance and the availability of competitors were all the countries had to think about. These considerations are now surmounted by a possible reluctance of countries to have contact with New Zealand. For a start, the two African nations sought, Kenya and Tanzania, are un-

likely to think very long, or , very hard, about how to i reply to their invitations. But in the meantime, the committee is very much in ; the dark as to how its invitations are now viewed overseas. Only when it has enough replies to reflect a general attitude will it know where it stands. Even if there should be a number of rejections, there are contingency plans to invite other countries, increase the totals for those willing to come or approach individuals. Mr Hunter said that both the executive and the full organising committee would be meeting next week and the situation would be appraised in the light of the information available. It might be necessary, he said, to send reminders to some of the countries, but experience had taught that it was impossible to say which countries would attend until they actually arrived. Mr Hunter, who is optimistic that the Games will go ahead as planned, said the various sub-committees 1

of the organising body were on schedule with their tasks, although the pace would obviously quicken in coming weeks. Tickets are due to go on sale next month. One source of up-to-date information that the committee is awaiting anxiously is its sports chairman, Mr H. C. Blazey, who attended the Montreal Olympics in a private capacity, but with the blessing of the committee to act on its behalf. Mr Blazey planned to go to South Africa and watch some of the All Blacks’ matches after the Olympics and the committee has not, yet heard from him. However, in an interview in Montreal a few weeks ago, Mr Blazey was' pessimistic about the New Zealand Games going ahead. “As Mr Blazey is our man on the spot, we will certainly respect and take notice of his opinion, but there are other sources of information to be tapped,” ’ said Mr Hunter. “The response in writing, of the invited countries is the key < factor.”