Sport and politics

Press, 20 October 1981, Page 20

Sport and politics

Sir.—Mr Mugabe says that because New Zealand recently played sport with South Africa, it follows that New Zealand must "have sympathy" with the raids of South African troops into Angola. If this reasoning is pursued, what is, the position of those countries which have sporting contacts with Cuba. East Germany and the U.S.S.R.? Does it follow that those countries “have sympathy” with the stationing of 30,000 Cuban troops, 2000 East Germans and 500 Russians in Angola? Do countries with such sporting contacts “have sympathy" with the 100,000 Russian troops who hold 14.000 prisoners in Afghanistan; or with the Russian bombing raids, just one of which recently killed 2000 people in Kapisa, Afghanistan? Or, if countries do not have sympathy with such actions, will they ban sporting contacts with Cuba. East Germany and the U.S.S.R. as well as with South Africa? If countries follow Mr Mugabe’s reasoning, they should soon be applying sporting bans to the three Communist countries.—Yours, etc.. GRAEME ASH. October 13. 1981.