Black list meaningless?

Press, 16 December 1981, Page 1

Black list meaningless?

NZPA London The African black list of sportsmen and sportswomen has been turned into a meaningless shade of grey by the Soviet Union.

The Daily Telegraph reported yesterday that the black African members of the United Nations Committee Against Apartheid, rather than risk humiliation before the United Nations General Assembly, have agreed that the list of sportsmen who have had links with South Africa should be simply noted by all member countries. The Soviet Union and otber Eastern bloc nations believe sportsmen should not be singled out for “third party” sanctions.

' This was a severe blow to the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, the “Telegraph” said.

The council had always maintained that, sanctions against individuals was the only way of isolating South African sport. Mr Sam Ramsamy, the London-based member of the council, said he was deeply disappointed.

“But members of the Organisation for African Unity stand by the list and now we will lobby all other Third World countries to support us,” he said. The General Assembly has now left individual countries to interpret the black list “as they deem appropriate.”