Threats ‘regrettable’

Press, 26 February 1988, Page 6

Threats ‘regrettable’

TONY VERDON

By

in London

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Marshall, yesterday questioned the consistency of African threats to boycott the World Cross-country Championships.

He said the threat would not change the Government’s stance on allowing the controversial South African-born runner, Zola Budd, into New Zealand to compete in the championships. Speaking in London, Mr Marshall described the threatened boycott of the championships, to be held in Auckland late next

month, as regrettable. “I regret that the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa has done that because it undermines the World Cross-country Championships in a way which is more detrimental to New Zealand sports than to others perhaps,” he said.

Although the Government has said that Budd would not be welcome in New Zealand, she had been selected as a member of the British team and will almost certainly be given the right to enter New Zealand. Earlier, during his present visit to Britain, Mr

Marshall told representatives of the International Athletic Federation and British athletic authorities that Budd was not wanted in New Zealand but that her entry would not be blocked.

However, he criticised yesterday the call by the Nigerian Sports Minister, and president of the African Council for Sport, Commodore Bayo Lawai, for promoting a boycott.

“I am not sure how consistent they have been about her participation in earlier world cross-coun-try championships,” Mr Marshall told a press conference.

Budd has won the world cross-country title twice previously, against competitors from African States.

Mr Marshall said he had not yet had a chance to discuss the boycott issue with his colleagues, and was still mulling over his response.

“There is some feeling that she has not altogether abided by the spirit of her British passport but at this stage I would have to say that even with that (the boycott call) New Zealand is unlikely to withhold her visa,” he said.