Games man sanguine

Press, 8 December 1988, Page 6

Games man sanguine

PA Wellington New Zealand’s “wellknown and consistent” anti-apartheid stance should protect it from retaliation by African nations because of the English cricket tour, said the chairman of the 1990 Commonwealth Games company, Mr David Johnson, yesterday. “Our basic stance, and that of the Government, is in support of the Gleneagles agreement,” said Mr Johnson. The antiapartheid organisation,

Hart, is protesting the presence of eight players in the England team, including the captain, Graham Gooch, who have been blacklisted by the United Nations for sporting contacts with South Africa.

Mr Johnson said the XlVth Commonwealth Games, Ltd, the company formed to co-ordinate the Auckland Games, had been in regular touch with most nations within the Commonwealth.

A delegation, including

the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Marshall, the Auckland Mayor, Dame Catherine Tizard, and Mr Tom Aldridge from the Games company, travelled to Africa last year and there had been further discussions at the Seoul Olympics. “New Zealand’s standing with the nations of the Commonwealth is very high and very good,” Mr Johnson said.

He said the fact that the 1990 Games had no involvement with cricket was also important.