Rowing bid unsuccessful

Press, 16 May 1984, Page 60

Rowing bid unsuccessful

PA Wellington The Eastern bloc’s refusal to go to Los Angeles prompted rowing to make an unsuccessful attempt last night to re-open nominations for the New Zealand Olympic team. The bid, at the monthly meeting of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association’s executive, failed on the casting vote of the chairman, Roy Dutton, who is also convenor of the Olympic selectors. It was promoted by the rowing delegate, Tay Wilson, who is also the assist-

ant manager of the Los Angeles team, because of the Eastern bloc’s refusal to go to the Games. Mr Wilson argued that with the withdrawal of the Soviet Union and others, more New Zealanders would meet the selection criteria of being capable of finishing in the top 16. By sending a bigger team, New Zealand would be showing its support for the Olympic movement, he said. “We should do our bit to fill empty lanes,” he added. The Government should be asked to provide more

> money to send a bigger t team. i “In 1980 when the Government was calling for us t to join the American boy- ; cott (of Moscow) they were , only too keen to put up cash ; to provide our sportsmen

with alternative events,” Mr Wilson said. “They should therefore now be prepared to provide extra funds for the extra athletes chosen.” Mr Wilson was manager of the truncated New Zealand team in Moscow. Voting was split, 8-8, on the Wilson proposal and Mr

Dutton voted against. He said he opted for the status quo — that nominations were closed.

Canoeing’s delegate, Bill Garlick, said if athletes were now nominated for the July-August games, they would not have sufficient time to prepare. Mr Dutton, when naming the Olympic team of 119 on April 30, said any athletes who have world-class performances before the Games would be considered for the team.

“The door is not firmly closed,” he said.