Resolve replaces despair

Press, 22 July 1986, Page 1

Resolve replaces despair

From ROD DEW in Edinburgh The Edinburgh Commowealth Games will be held as planned, in spite of the most disruptive boycott on record of a major international sporting festival. The defection of Sir Lanka has brought the’ total of boycotting nations to 26, representing a loss of nearly 1000 competitors. There is no real indication yet where it will all end, but the despair and anguish felt by the Scottish organisers a few days ago has been replaced by a new resolve

to make these Games at least as successful as those held in Edinburgh at the same venues 16 years ago. A very successful dress rehearsal for the opening ceremony extravaganza was held at the Meadowbank Stadium last evening. Inevitably, it involved thousands of children, even more pigeons, and more bagpipes than you would see at a national pipe band championship in New Zealand. There is now a very strong feeling that once the Games open on Friday morning (New Zea-

land time) the fact that so many nations from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean will not be competing will be pushed into the background. This determination to hold a successful Games is reflected by the general manager of the New Zealand team, Mr Bruce Ullrich. “The Games will still be very successful,” he said yesterday. “There will still be 2500 competitors, and that is 1000 up on the numbers which competed in the 1970 Edinburgh Games. "I don’t think that there is any question about these Games being very successful. And it is fair to say that the boycott will have only a very limited effect op the New Zealand team.” Mr Robert Maxwell, who took control of the Games in the face of looming financial problems, is also optimistic. “Go ahead they will, and they will be a great success,” he said.

The term “great” might prove something of an exaggeration, although the experiences of previous sporting boycotts suggests that those who stay away will be the chief losers. Previous boycotts of the Olympic Games have still left memories of great champions, and little recollection of those who were not there.

Nevertheless, the problems continue and more revelations are expected today. The two South African-born competitors who were chosen in the England team, Zola Budd (track) and Annette Cowley (swimming), and subsequently ruled out on residential grounds by the Commonwealth Games

Federation take their case to the High Court today. Yesterday, their case was heard by the jury of appeal of the federation, and it decided, to everyone’s surprise, to uphold the original ruling. The end to this bizarre sideline should be reached today, in the courts.

The British Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher, the real target of the boycotting nations because other refusal to consider sanctions against South Africa, is running into considerable disfavour in Scotland. The “Iron Lady,” who was to officially visit the Games on August 1, might no longer be welcome. The Edinburgh District Council, which owns the Meadowbank Stadium and the Royal Commonwealth Pool, will consider a motion tomorrow seeking the Games organisers to withdraw her invitation. Just how much Mrs Thatcher is out of step with the general public, at least those with sporting interests, is shown by a move by athletes in the England team to join the boycott, unless she relents on the trade sanctions refusal.

A boycott by the England team, which contains many black athletes, is extremely unlikely and could only take place with the unanimous agreement of team members. It is much more likely that the team will stay in the Games, and provide some of the greatest highlights. The clash between Steve Cram and the Olympic champion, Sebastion Coe in an 800m-1500m doubleheader is certainly shaping up as an exciting feature.