Pro tennis stars to compete at Seoul

Press, 13 May 1987, Page 80

Pro tennis stars to compete at Seoul

NZPA-Reuter Istanbul Olympic leaders ushered in a new era yesterday by admitting professional tennis players to the 1988 Seoul Games. Although professionals will be eligible in most other sports in; Seoul, the decision to admit the big names of the Grand Prix tennis circuit was widely seen as a watershed in Olympic history. It was expected to have more impact than virtually any other single decision in disposing of the nominal amateur code enforced since the Olympics were revived in 1896. The only remaining Summer Games sport not open to the world’s top players is soccer, from which European and South American World Cup players are barred. However, Olympic leaders are to discuss with the International Football Federation (F.1.F.A.) the possibility of opening up the 1992 Barcelona Games to

Europeans and South Americans who have played in World Cup qualifying matches but not in the finals. The International Olympic Committee (1.0. C. agreed by acclamation to allow such high-profile tennis players as Boris Becker and Martina Navratilova to compete in Seoul. The plan to permit tennis professionals to play in Seoul on an experimental basis was submitted to' the 92nd 1.0. C. Session by Willi Daume, West German chairman of the 1.0. C. eligibility commission. Mr Daume said there was no direct opposition to the proposals despite doubts expressed in the past by Sovietbloc and Third World countries.

“It is important that the Olympic Games should be for the elite and not for second, third or fourth class competitors,” Mr Daume said. “Tennis is such a big sport that the Olympic Games would not be complete without it.”