S.A. contact ‘could destroy ’78 Games’

Press, 17 December 1976, Page 2

S.A. contact ‘could destroy ’78 Games’

PA Wellingtoni New Zealand must face the fact that in ini ternational affairs sport i is already deeply involved in politics and it is no longer possible to keep the two completely) separate, the Minister of State (Sir Keith Holyoake) has said. Speaking to the Hutt Valley National Club at Lower Hutt, he said the decision of, most African nations not to compete against New Zealanders in anv field as long as New Zealand maintained sporting contacts with South Africa could destroy the Commonwealth Games and even the Queen’s silver jubi- I lee celebrations in London might be “seriously affected ” \ Sir Keith said that the Government was strongly opposed to political interference in sporting affairs — 1 “and we are doing all we, can to stop it. But we have to be realistic.” ; He said that the Govern-] » ment’s policy on sporting i, contacts with other countries / did not derive from any i attitude or policy toward apartheid. “It derives from i the basic philosophy of the t National Party — from our belief in individual freedom. ]

“The policy on which wei went to the country last year and in 1972 is that sporting bodies should be free to decide for themselves who to compete with overseas. It was on that basis that we were returned to office and w r e believe in honouring our commitments.’’ New Zealand sports bodies cherised their right to decide who to deal with in other countries but had a strong sense of responsibility. Since he had said in New York that the Government expected any sporting body considering an exchange with South Africa to approach the Government to seek its assessment in assessing the wider implications of the proposed exchange a number had approached it. “We have told them that the Africans feel very deeply about apartheid. .They i entify themselves with the black African peoples of South Africa and they regard apartheid as an insult to Africans in general. “They are prepared to make considerable sacrifices to achieve their goal of eliminating apartheid and their actions can seriously affect New Zealand sportsmen, and New Zealand as a country. “The fact is that the 'Continuation of sporting conI tacts with South Africa iw’ould seriously jeopardise I this country’s reputation and its wider international interests. "The Government would not be acting responsibly if it did not make this plain to sporting bodies.“We have not departed from the basic policy < . which we went to the country last year. Sporting bodies are still free to decide for themselves who to compete with overseas. “The Government has clearly restated its own opposition to apartheid and also to sporting contacts with teams selected on the basis of apartheid. “But we will not dictate to them on this or on any other question. We have confidence in them and we trust them to make the right decisions.” Sir Keith referred to changes in public attitudes which anyone who lived here could see for himself.

“Most people now believe that there will not in fact be. 1 any more contacts with rac-i tally selected teams from] South Africa. But this is not; so clear to people in other I countries, and particularly in i Africa. “It is the Government’s job to explain to other governments what is happening in this country and to clear up the misunderstandings that still seem to exist overseas. “We are doing this now. We hope that when the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa meets next month to! consider lie question of; African party ’ pation in the] Commonwealth Games it will have a clearer under-1 standing of the s’tuation in this country. And ve hope it will realise that we are working effectively to support the international campaign against apartheid and racialism.” Sir Keith said that if the supreme council decided that the Africans would not take part in the 1978 Games the issue was almost certain to; arise at the meeting of Com-; monwealth heads of govern-; ment in London next June. The Prime Minister (Mr; Muldoon) has declined toi comment on Sir Keith’s 1 speech. He said al a press confer ence he would prefer to read; the full speech first before; making comment. “I’d be pretty sure Str! Keith would not be far from the party’s policy — has been around a long time.’’ The Citizens’ Association for Racial Equality has sent a telegram of congratulations to Sir Keith Holyoake on his speech. “We wholly welcome Sir Keith’s comments as a step to restore New Zealand's credibility with the Third World countries,” said the new president of C.A.R.E. (Mr I. Mitchell).