Hamilton keen to house athletes

Press, 1 July 1986, Page 1

Hamilton keen to house athletes

PA Hamilton Plans by the Mayor of Hamilton, Mr Ross Jansen, to give his city a large slice of the 1990 Commonwealth Games deserve serious consideration, says the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Tapsell.

Mr Jansen’s proposal, made public at the weekend, has stirred up criticism in Hamilton and in the Games host city, Auckland.

Mr Tapsell yesterday discounted reports that the plan was too late to be included in discussions that he would hold today with the Games organising committee, and said "there’s no question it will have to be taken Into the equation.” Mr Jansen has given Games organisers a 20page document proposing

construction of a $25 million to $3O million Games village at Waikato University, and suggesting Hamilton as a venue for swimming and diving events, pistol and rifle shooting, and cycling. According to a report from Auckland, the chairman of the Games venues committee, Mr Bob Lorimer, described the proposal as "just a waste of everybody’s time — it is logistically stupid to have people travelling from Hamilton to Auckland.” The Games sports director, Judge Maxwell, said copies of the proposal had been made available to organisers, and a Games village in Hamilton could not- be ruled out.

Mr Tapsell said the problems involved in setting up Games venues and

accommodation in Auckland were “still very real,” and it would be “foolish to underestimate these.”

Mr Jansen’s village proposal was “certainly worth consideration,” especially as it would qualify for University Grants Committee funding as future university accommodation. •

As well, he believed some of the Games events were going to have to be held in the Waikato. The only problem was transport between Hamilton and Auckland.

Mr Tapsell said that the proposal would “almost certainly” be discussed by him and the Games organising committee today. It was not too late, as the discussions were simply aimed at keeping him “up with the play.”