Selected stars for Games possible

Press, 17 September 1976, Page 24

Selected stars for Games possible

Sufficient finance is expected to be available for eight to 10 special invitations to be issued to selected competitors for the 1977 New Zealand Games in Christchurch.

The Games executive director (Mr A. W. Barrett) said yesterday that the operative word was still “might,” but added that the organising committee’s executive had compiled a list, which would probably be released next week.

Although the special invitations were few in number, Mr Barrett mentioned that the cost of bringing one competitor from one country was very high. The organising committee is awaiting replies from eight of the 19 countries invited. Canada, East Germany, Iran, Kenya, China, Tahiti, Tanzania and Tonga have yet to notify their intentions. Bulgaria and Finland, both of which were invited to send weight-lifters, are the only countries to decline, although Kenya and Tanzania are almost certain to decline their invitations in protest of New Zealand’s sporting contacts with South Africa.

The countries which have accepted invitations are: Australia, Fiji, West Germany, Japan, New Caledonia, Britain and the United States.