Policy for S.A. contacts in bid

Press, 25 July 1984, Page 24

Policy for S.A. contacts in bid

NZPA Los Angeles A statement by the Prime Minister, Mr David Lange, spelling out New Zealand’s attitude to sports contact with South Africa is to be added to papers outlining Auckland’s bid for the 1990 Commonwealth Games, The games promotion committee’s chairman, Joe McManemin, said yesterday he was given a copy of the statement at Auckland airport jiist before he left for Los Angeles. He described it as valuable.

Mr Lange said Auckland’s bid for the games had his Government’s full support He also detailed the Gov-

ernment’s attitude to sports contact with South Africa, saying New Zealand would firmly adhere to its international obligations and repeated it would not stop sports teams going to South Africa.

“We thought it valuable and are getting copies so we can include them in our promotion brochure,” Mr McManemin said.

Perth and New Delhi are also bidding for the games and the Commonwealth Games Federation will choose one of the three at its general assembly at Los Angeles this week. Mr McManemin said he did not expect New Zea-

land’s history of sports contact with South Africa to count against Auckland’s application.

“If they start pulling skeletons out of cupboards, there’d be no-one left on the stage,” Mr McManemin said. “Anyway, Hl be there to present the case on Auckland’s behalf and then we leave while the federation debates it and makes a decision.”

The three applications will be presented in alphabetical order — Australia, India, New Zealand — and any questions on them will be put to those countries’ federation delegates.