Budd severs links with South Africa

Press, 11 February 1988, Page 31

Budd severs links with South Africa

By

PETER O’HARA

of NZPA, in London

Zola Budd has met criticisms from New Zealand and Britain by announcing she has severed all links with her native South Africa.

Budd, due in Auckland next month to compete in' the world cross-country championships, said she had split up with her South African coach and adviser and had no property or assets in the country. The New Zealand Sport and Recreation Minister, Mr Tapsell, said last week the 21-year-old twice world champion was not welcome in New Zealand. She has come under increasing pressure in Britain for spending too much time

in South Africa and abusing the British passport she acquired four years ago —• allegedly operating under a “flag of convenience.”

Budd said on Tuesday: “I have completely cut all ties with South Africa. I am proud to be a Briton and will do my utmost for Britain. I love being in England.”

She added: “I do know that the majority of people in Britain do not oppose me.”. The athlete -spent eight months of last year back in South Africa, but said on Tuesday she would only return there to visit her family at Christmas. If Budd fulfils those intentions, it is likely she will qualify for inclusion in the 1990 Commonwealth Games

in Auckland. The Commonwealth Games Federation tightened up residential rules when it met in London last month in a move to stop competitors using flags of convenience. Competitors must be born in the country they represent, or have lived there for three out of the five years before a Games.

Anti-apartheid demonstrators have warned that they will mount protests against Budd’s presence in Auckland for the cross-country championships.

The Commonwealth Games organisers are worried that Budd could spark boycotts, and that her presence in Auckland next month will hurt their fund-raising programme.