Dr Ordia to spell out Games code

Press, 24 September 1982, Page 1

Dr Ordia to spell out Games code

N'ZPA Brisbane Dr Abraham Ordia, president of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, will arrive in Brisbane today to spell out black Africa’s determined stand on the Commonwealth Games Code of Conduct. Black African team officials already in Brisbane for the Games are remaining silent on the issue which still hangs over the Games, due to start on September 30.

The code was worked out at an emergency meeting o( Commonwealth countries in London in May. It sets out guidelines for the functioning of the Gleneagles Agreement, restricting sports contacts with South Africa because of its apartheid policies.

The agreement was criticised as ineffective by black African nations after last year’s Springbok rugby tour of New Zealand and more recently a visit to South Africa by a team of English professional cricketers.

The chairman of the NewZealand Olympic and Commonwealth Association, Mr Roy Dutton, has said that New Zealand is opposed to the code, but will abide by it if it is passed at a Games Federation meeting next month.

Dr Ordia has urged NewZealand to drop its opposition to the anti-apartheid measures to be discussed. In an official statement, Dr Ordia said, “I appeal to

New Zealand to refrain from any situation whereby she may be forced to choose between racist South Africa and the rest of Afria.” Dr Ordia said the decision on the code had been unanimous, and New Zealand’s opposition was unexpected because its representatives had been present at the London meeting.

“New Zealand should not hold the rest of the Commonwealth to ransom. She should desist from defying the rest of the world community,” Dr Ordia said. New Zealand’s participation at Brisbane had brought a serious threat of an African boycott which eased after the London meeting. Included in the code are powers to discipline any Commonwealth Games sport

which has links with South Africa and calls for suspension from the Games for "gross non-fulfilment of the principles of the Gleneagles Agreement.” The retiring chairman of the Games Federation, Sir Alexander Ross, said New Zealand could vote against the code, which needs a twothirds majority to be adopted. "That is New Zealand’s right, but if it is adopted at the Brisbane meeting we would expect all Commonwealth countries to abide by the decision,” Sir Alexander said. An estimated 53 countries will vote on the code. The black African nations will hold a meeting on Sunday in an attempt to ensure a unified approach. Mr Daniel Whitehead, chairman of the Commonwealth Games Foundation, the organisation responsible for providing the sports venues and all other facilities, was also surprised at New Zealand’s unexpected stance.

“What they have said will have no effect on the Games. I don’t know what they hope to achieve by making public their position before the meeting,” he said. Mr Whitehead said Dr Ordia was coming to Brisbane as an official guest of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association.

“He is also representing the Nigerian Games Association in Brisbane and we are happy to welcome him.”