Ueberroth not hopeful of Soviet reversal

Press, 18 May 1984, Page 26

Ueberroth not hopeful of Soviet reversal

NZPA-Reuter Washington The Los Angeles Olympic chief, Peter Ueberroth, said yesterday he was carrying further United States security assurances to an emergency Olympics meeting in Switzerland, but that he had little hope the Soviet Union would reverse its boycott as a result. However, he said public opinion might have an effect. Mr Ueberroth told a news conference before flying to Lausanne for an Inter-

i national Olympic Committee meeting today that he carried security pledges from the F. 8.1. Director, William Webster, as well as California Saw enforcement i agencies. I But he said he believed i the Soviet Union knew its i claim that its athletes and officials would not be safe : at the July Games were ■ groundless. “I think what we say will ; have very little persuasive i powers,” he said. “But I think what athletes

are saying around the world and what public opinion is beginning to say might be effective,” he added, without elaborating. Mr Ueberroth read a statement from the Los Angeles Olympic Committee, saying the “absurd and reprehensible” boycott would not destroy the 1984 Games or the Olympic

movement. “We don’t need to have them in Los Angeles to have one of the greatest Olympic Games in history,” it said.