Chch takes step to get Games

Press, 10 May 1979, Page 1

Chch takes step to get Games

The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. G. Hay) and Sir Ronald Scott spoke strongly in favour of a New Zealand bid to get the World Veteran Games for Christchurch in 1981 when they met the Games promotion committee last evening. Sir Ronald said he backed the project for two main reasons: to encourage older men and women to participate in athletics and to see the best sports facilities in New Zealand put to continuing use. Mr Hay said the Christchurch City Council would do anything it could to bring the Games to Christchurch. Mr C. Green, the New Zealand co-ordinator for the Veteran Athletes’ Association, who came from Wellington for the meeting, said that New Zealand’s case was being prepared in several different languages to be presented at the next Games at Hanover in August, when the decision would be made. Mr J. K. Macdonald, one

of New Zealand’s most prominent veteran athletes, will travel to Hanover with the New Zealand delegates. He said that New Zealand had a strong chance of staging the Games. Japan, Australia, and Britain also wanted to hold them. Air New Zealand and Trans Holdings had agreed to play a leading part in the preparation of the promotional material necessary to convince the world body at Hanover of the desirability of Christchurch as a venue.

Air New Zealand would assist a promotional team of four athletes to present New Zealand’s case at Hanover. It was hoped that Sir Ronald would head an additional support team. The promotional committee had prepared a detailed budget which had been sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Highet) with an application for a promotional grant and a request for further assistance and underwriting if the Games were awarded to New Zealand.