Africans may boycott sports

Press, 31 August 1977, Page 12

Africans may boycott sports

PA Auckland The Edmonton Commonwealth Games co-ordinator, Mr Geoff Dyson, has forecast a shift in sporting attitudes I by black African nations. Speaking in Auckland, i where he is taking i a “coaching holiday”, he said I he thought that emerging ! African nations would drop ; their over-all policies against I countries whose sportsmen iplaj'ed in or against South ■ Africa. , “My guess is that they will I operate in future against particular sports,” said the world-famous British coach, who will be top co-ordinator for 11 sports, in Edmonton, Alberta. The shift in attitude made him optimistic about black athletes’ competing at the next Games, rather than a repetition of the walk-out from the Montreal Olympics. “Certainly we want black Africa at Edmonton,” he said “I believe the work done at the Prime Ministers’ Conference in England recently and behind the scenes by diplomats is beginning to bear fruit.” Mr Dyson said he saw the Montreal walk-out and sub sequent developments as i misunderstanding brough about by different life-styles. “Emerging black athlete

1 can’t compete internationally!, without the help of their ' - government,” he said. “They -j , find it difficult to understand! t how a team or a competitor!, s can afford to go overseas without government back- 1 , ing.” ’, The emerging nations did ( 1 not have sports with enough L > money to make overseas trips I > when a government dis- t t approved. 1 [ i “I think it was a genuine:] i misunderstanding, although c there may have been a bit!< I of ‘bloody mindiness’ later it ■ on.” said Mr Dyson. 11 •. His optimism about black! , competitors at Edmonton L ■ was encouraged by inquiries It , from both India and Kenva 11 regarding officials at the| ' game. |t “True, we haven’t had offi-1 cial acceptance from them it yet,” he said. “But we must It be confident.” r Of the 48 nations entitled c to compete, 23 had entered for Edmonton. This covered r about 80 per cent of the s sportsmen and women who ‘ should be considered. B Mr Dyson came to world prominence in athletics when te put British coaching on a g tational basis after the Second World War. He is “ ittending the national young c thletes’ school in Auckland t his week. v