Olympic fund still short

Press, 9 May 1984, Page 3

Olympic fund still short

PA Wellington New Zealand’s Olympic team appeal fund was still $600,000 short of its target, despite the clamour for Monday’s $1 million Olympic Gold Lottery, said the president of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, Mr Lance Cross, yesterday. “The $2 million target is estimated by the association as the minimum required to adequately prepare, equip, transport and accommodate the Olympic team totalling 159 people,” said Mr Cross. “We have passed the $1 million mark but require a further $600,000 from sources other than the lottery and major sponsors.” The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Highet, said yesterday that the Olympic fund would get at least $300,000 from the lottery. “If they want more it’ll be there. We can lift the figure,” he said. “There will be just over $1 million net profit. We won’t know until all the figures are in and the final audit is done.” Both Mr Cross and Mr Highet emphasised that the Olympic Gaines effort would not be the only beneficiary of the lottery, with other sports bodies and people also receiving funds. The association would soon be calling on all New Zealand to help reach the target figure, Mr Cross said. “The recent experience of our national soccer team serves to emphasise the critical importance of funding for adequate preparation. Our Olympic team has great potential. We should do everything possible to realise that potential particularly in ensuring maximum performance through proper preparation.” Mr Cross said: “I again emphasise that we see the $2 million appeal target as the absolute minimum to adequately fund our Olympic team.”