Olympic Games

Press, 11 May 1984, Page 12

Olympic Games

Sir,—The reasons for the Soviet Union’s announcement of its withdrawal from the Olympic Games have nothing to do with revenge for the United States boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Soviet fears for the safety of their athletes in Los Angeles are valid, and we have seen on the television screen a spokesman for the organisation, “Ban the Soviets from the Olympic Games” declare its intention to pressure Soviet athletes to defect to the United States. Protests against the Soviet Olympic contingent by anti-Soviet extremists are contrary to the Olympic spirit, which is supposedly to foster peace and good will. Refusal by the United States Government, which spends billions for war, to finance the Games is contemptible and revealing. Interference by the United States Government, in violation of Rule 59 of the Olympic Charter, requiring visas for Soviet athletes has never been reported by the Western press. — Yours, etc., M. CREEL. May 10, 1984. Sir,—The news from Moscow on the Olympic Games is the logical outcome of our boycotting of the 1980 Olympics in the Soviet Union. The United States and Britain were the instigators of that political conspiracy and, true to form, this country followed suit, denying our world-class sports teams the opportunity of showing their worth. New Zealand, under the present Government, has become a lackey of the Reagan-Thatcher administrations; and all future discussions relating to nuclear weapons, embargoes, boycotts and the like will be endorsed by the present Government, which has yet to learn to stand its ground in situations that concern the people of New Zealand. — Yours, etc., L. WESTNEY. May 9, 1984.