Kiwis aim to take home gold

Press, 4 August 1987, Page 56

Kiwis aim to take home gold

NZPA-AAP Sydney A Kiwi invasion later this year is confident of returning home with a record amount of Australian gold. But it will be in the shape of gold medals for winning performances at the first Australian) Masters Games, in Tasmania from November 28.' “About 340 entries from New Zealand have already been received and they are predicting they will leave Australians behind in a multiple of events,” said the Games general manager, Kim Newstead.

“In fact, they have nominated athletics, swimming, rowing, cycling, lawn bowls and wood chopping as events in which New Zealand will be superior. “We admit that masters and veterans are developing well in their country but we have a few surprises to slow them down.” A total of 3900 medals will be contested during the 14-day carnival at various venues, including Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Ulverstone.

The dates have been deliberately arranged to allow competitors in the

World Veterans Athletics, in Melbourne, to participate in the Masters track and? field events, in Hobart from December 612. * Ndwstead expects 4000 competitors for the 36 different sports on the schedule. “It will cost nearly $1 million to plan and stage but I believe it will be one of the first multi-sport festivals which won’t be financially embarrassing," he said. “The Games are being run by a non-profit organisation, which won’t make any money and won’t lose. £

’ “Our outlay will come from a half-million-dollar grant from the Tasmanian Government, $lOO,OOO from the Federal Government, corporate sponsorship and registration fees. 1 “Olympic gold medallist, Dawn Fraser, will be competing and we also hope to confirm Marjorie McQuade in swimming, Peter Toogood for golf and Heather McKay in squash.” Newstead said the Games would have more sports and possibly more competitors than the Friendly Olympic Games, in Melbourne in 195f1t.