Games fears hit appeal for funds

Press, 16 March 1982, Page 1

Games fears hit appeal for funds

PA Wellington Uncertainty over New Zealand's participation in the Commonwealth Games at Brisbane had hit team fundraising, said a leading official yesterday. Mr Roy Dutton, chairman of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, told journalists, “Fund-raising is not going anywhere near as well as we would have hoped.’’ He said he could “only put it down to the controversy, which brings about this uncertainty.

“If there is any doubt about the Games going ahead, or tjie Games being a complete success, it discourages people from opening their wallets.” Mr Dutton said.

The association hopes to raise $400,000 to send a team of 170 to Brisbane, but the only money received is a $50,000 grant from the Government. This was reduced to a net $44,000 by expenses. The Government has budgeted a further $50,000 this year, and the association expects receipts soon from other sources.

A further $llO,OOO — $55,000 a year — is due from the Government in 1983 and 1985 for the next Olympic Games. The association’s fund-rais-ing was helped by Mr Muldoon yesterday. He used his Beehive office to publicise the association’s plight. The athletes, John Walker and Anne Audain, attended wearing the blue-and-white Games team tracksuits.

Mrs Audain was given a personal assurance by Mr Muldoon that the Commonwealth Games would not “disappear.” She and Walker were in Mr Muldoon’s office to publicise New Zealand team fund-raising for this year’s Games. ■

Referring to threats of an African boycott of the Games, MrsAudain said, “I was at Christchurch and Montreal (previous Commonwealth and Olympic Games venues) and so forth, and it is such a shame to see that disappear.”

Mr Muldoon said, “I don’t think it is going to. I feel sure that when all the politicking is put aside you will find the Governments of these countries will want to have their people take part.” The president of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games. Association, Mr Lance Cross, said that Nigeria and Kenya were the two countries bidding to hold the 1986 Commonwealth Games.

“There is no way they are going to stay away from the Games,’’ Mr Cross said. “Their chances of making a successful bid would be nil.”

Mr Muldoon: They will all be there and we will be there and everyone will have a great time. Later Walker told journalists that New Zealand athletes had run against all the African countries in recent years.

“I have no hesitation in saying we will definitely be there (at Brisbane),” he said. The visit of Rugby Union councillors to South Africa this month probably made the Games prospects “a little dicey at the moment." But he defended their right to go, and said, “I don't see where football has anything to do with track and field.” Mr Muldoon wished the athletes success in raising Games funds and in the Games.

“1 hope everyone will come along from all the Commonwealth countries and have the kind of Games we had in Christchurch in 1974,” he said.