Athletes snub Thatcher in vote to go to Games

Press, 27 March 1980, Page 8

Athletes snub Thatcher in vote to go to Games

NZPA-Reuter London British athletes were yesterday preparing to go to the Moscow Olympics in defiance of the Government’s plea for a boycott. The British Olympic Association voted by almost three to one to attend the July Games. Only a hockey representative came out against the decision, and officials from four other sports abstained. The Conservative Government of Mrs Margaret

Thatcher, which has urged a boycott of the Olympics to punish the Soviet Union for military . intervention in Afghanistan, said it seriously regretted the 8.0. A. decision. “Never before in the history of the Olympic movement has the host country been committing aggression at the time against another country,” it said. “While this situation persists our view will remain in favour of a boy-

cott of the summer games.” The Government said individual sportsmen were not bound by the decision, and it hoped they would follow Government advice and stay away from the games. Equestrianism, fencing, swimming, and yachting were the four sports which wanted a decision deferred until the situation over Afghanistan had become clearer, officials said.