Games refusals now coming to N.Z.

Press, 7 December 1976, Page 6

Games refusals now coming to N.Z.

“I wish them (the organisers) the best of luck.” This was the immediate response of Mr A. W. Barrett, die executive director of the New Zealand Games Organising Committee, to the news last evening that an international athletics meeting will be held at Queen Elizabeth II Park on January 22, the day the Games were scheduled to start.

At die same time, Mr Barrett said he was very disappointed for his committee, which had tried so hard to get world-class athletes, including a number of diose who are now said to be coming, to attend the recently postponed Games.

Mr Barrett said he won

idered if the invited athletes 'really knew what was happening in New Zealand. With the New Zealand Games on, (then off and now the new series of meetings on there could easily be some confusion.

"1 will believe they are here when 1 see them.” he said before adding that he would be only too happy’ to spend $2 to attend the Christchurch meeting. In explaining why Dick Quax and other leading New Zealand athletes were able to succeed where the Games committee failed, Mr Barrett said it was obvious that the personal approach brought better results. However, he said that John Walker bad not been

interested in helping th* Games committee. About « month before the Gamei were postponed. the commit tee invited Walker to Christ church to obtain his advict on how best to go about getting the overseas athlete* sought. Walker never replied

' To the announcement thal I Walker would run at th* [Christchurch meeting. Mi ißarrett said he could onlj [congratulate him on a mar. vellous recovery.

Walker was unava’lablt for the New Zealand Games because he said they wer* too soon after his appendu

operation, and this was on* of the setbacks that led t« the Games being called off