N.Z. official says Games devalued, disorganised

Press, 22 July 1986, Page 1

N.Z. official says Games devalued, disorganised

By

PETER O’HARA,

NZPA staff correspondent in Edinburgh

Defections have “decimated” some Commonwealth Games athletics events and paying spectators would get little value for money, said a leading New Zealand official yesterday.

Mr Steve Rollings, manager of the Kiwi athletes, said: "I feel very sorry for people who’ve bought tickets.” After attending a meeting of Games technical officials Mr Rollings told reporters there would be “very, very little” happening in morning programmes and some afternoon schedules would be shortened because of boycotts.

"When you come to look at defections it really has decimated some of the athletic events,” he said.

“I feel very sorry for people who have bought tickets — they’re certainly not going to get value for money.” Mr Rollings slated some of the Games athletics organisation — calling plans for the walks and marathon disgraceful.

“The marathon course

was not marked out and that must be the first major marathon where the course has not been physically marked for people to train or follow,” he said. He said there was every indication there would be no intermediate clocks to give times along the course and that lack of information for the runners was “an absolute disgrace.” The reason given was a lack of finance but “there are clocks up and down the United Kingdom which could be acquired,” he said.

Mr Rollings said there was “shambles” at the technical meeting, which lasted three hours 40 minutes, “setting a new Commonwealth record.” It will reconvene to continue considering the marathon and walk, also not marked out.

Mr Rollings said that

the marathon organisers had not provided for the supply of drinking bottles and competitors had to do that themselves. He said the boycott defections would affect New Zealand in the middle distance events “but the opposition is still very formidable.”

Kiwis may find they get less time on the track because of the withdrawals.

“Some things are going to work against us,” Mr Rollings said. "Semi-finals will be cut out of events like the 400 m and I'OOm hurdles.

“An athlete who may have gone into the semifinal is now going to be knocked out in the heat so ending up with only one run.

" Some people say the boycotts make it easier. For certain athletes it is going to make it much more difficult.”