Danger to Games bid

Press, 15 May 1981, Page 6

Danger to Games bid

A bid to have the fifteenth World Deaf Games allocated to Christchurch in 1985 has been placed in serious jeopardy. by a shortfall ol $28,000. The need to make the application on behalf ol Christchurch during the international Year of the Disabled appears to have compromised the fund-rais-ing plans. A total of $65,000 was requited to send a New Zealand team of 21 competitors to the 1981 World Deaf Games in Cologne and to have them accompanied by a five-man contingent — led by Sir Ronald Scott and the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr Hamish Hay — to put the Christchurch case. It is no simple task for deaf persons to ply raffle tickets, but $13,000 was raised by such methods. Grants from Lion Breweries and the Ministry of Recreation and Sport further swelled the coffers and the national LitihS Cltlbs administration pledged its support.

The president of the New Zealand Deaf Amateur Sports Association (Mr M. L. Coutts) is alarmed that $28,000 is still required a little less than two months before the New Zealand contingent departs for Cologne. “Part of the problem, I think, is that the over-all cause of the Year of the Disabled has fragmented the deaf sports effort,” Mr Coutts Said. “There is so much being dotie for the cause that our appeal is getting lost in the scramble.” Each of New Zealand’s 400 Lions Clubs was approached for a contribution of $B5, and 60 were quick to help. Mr Coutts’s association is most appreciative, but perplexed by the lack of response from the others. Mr Coutts has suggested several fund-raising courses. A number of approaches to private and public bodies has been made, and consideration is being given to transferring funds from the association’s bank account to Post office bonus bonds in

the hope that “Lady Luck” will lend a hand. The association might reluctantly have to borrow a large amount or to levy each member of the teame between $lOOO and $l5OO. Mr Coutts has ruled out reducing the size of the squad — "everybody is needed to present a good case to secure the 1985 Games.” Much preliminary work has already been done in seeking the 1985 Games for Christchurch. Notification that the city was willing to act as host was given during the thirteenth Games in Rumania in 1977, and the decP sion is to be made by delegates from the various countries in attendance at Cologne. A total of thirty.-four nations and more than 3000 participants would be expected to come to Christchurch, and a, preliminary budget of $363,000, which allows for inflation, has been drawn up. . The material to be %

’ presented by the Christchurch delegation in- . eludes letters of support ( from the Prime Minister (Mr , Muldoon), the Minister of > Recreation and Sport (Mr ■ Highet), the Minister of So- , cial Welfare (Mr Gait), the ’ Christchurch City and Pa* > parua County councils, the . New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, and the national administrative bodies of the ‘ various sports. Investigations have shown [ that accommodation, catering and interpreting facilities will be available for the participants and Supporters who would travel to Christchurch. Air New Zealand has been involved in the groundwork and will .have a representative accompanying the team to Cologne. The 1985 Games bid will present a total image of New. Zealand, and the 1974 Commonwealth Games will be used as am example of the expertise available in this country to administer such an event.