Olympic stars for N.Z. Games?

Press, 16 September 1976, Page 36

Olympic stars for N.Z. Games?

Alberto Juantorena Cuba), Don Quarrie (Jamaica), Lasse Viren (Finland), and Ivo van Damme (Belgium) all became household names during the Montreal Olympic Games.

There is a possibility that they will compete at the New Zealand Games in Christchurch in January.

In the light of performances at Montreal, the athletics control committee for the Games has drawn up a list of additional invitations—and the countries of each of these competitors is on it.

In some cases, it is believed that the organising committee will depart from its policy of simply inviting countries, but will ask for the competitors it wants by name. It can be fairly safely assumed that in the case of each of these countries, the

athlete wanted is the one mentioned. The other countries on the list are Poland and East Germany. The women's 400 m gold medallist, and world record-holder, Irina Szewinski, is probably the Pole wanted, and although no names have been mentioned in respect of East Germany, there are several who would hold appeal, the woman sprinter, Renate Steelier, being one.

The Games Organising Committee has been investigating the costs which would be incurred in adding these extra countries to the invitation list. It is, perhaps, a little ironical that Cuba, which was on the first list submitted

by the athletics control committee, was ruled out months ago because of high travel costs. However, the costs would, no doubt, be returned many times in ticket sales if Juantorena. the 400 m and 800 m Olympic champion, could be secured. The executive of the Organising Committee will meet today, and it is likely that a decision on what additional invitations will be sent will be made then. As the extra competitors wanted are few in number, they would not affect the invitations already sent, and to which in some cases affirmative replies have been re* ceived.