Olympic row defused

Press, 27 April 1984, Page 21

Olympic row defused

NZPA-Reuter Lausanne American and Soviet officials have appeared to have defused, for the time being at least, a smouldering row over preparations for this year’s Los Angeles Olympic Games which threatened the participation of Soviet athletes. After a four-hour meeting with the Los Angeles Games president, Mr Peter Ueberroth, the Soviet State sports chief, Mr Marat Gramov, said Soviet teams would take part as long as the

United States obeyed Olympic rules. The meeting was chaired by the International Olympic Committee president, Mr Juan Antonio Samaranch. Mr Gramov told a press conference that during the talks “a step forward has been made towards getting rid of the problems which have accumulated recently. A joint communique said the Soviet Union had the “firm intention” to participate at Los Angeles if the Olympic Charter was en-

forced and it noted that the organising committee had declared the charter would be entirely respected. Referring to the United States boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics over the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, Mr Gramov said the Soviet Union “has never intended nor do we plan a policy of revenge.” “The only guarantee we want is the strict observance of the Olympic Charter. If it is observed our teams will take part,” Mr Gramov told reporters.