Protection for body and soul

Press, 6 October 1989, Page 7

Protection for body and soul

PA Wellington Packets of condoms might join parts of the Bible as gifts in “welcome packs” for athletes and officials at the Auckland Commonwealth Games. The Bible Society has won Games officials’ approval to include a New Testament in each of the 4000 “Welcome to Auckland” packs. The idea was also used at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games in 1986.

A Games spokeswoman, Ms Robyn Duncan, said yesterday that the full range of gifts had not been decided, but “we’ve had various health people contact us about putting in condoms and things.” The Bible Society’s general secretary, Mr Colin Reed, said the New Testaments would not be withdrawn if condoms went into the packs.

“We hope that what we put in would be seen as significant, as other people might think what they put in is significant”

Mr Reed said the New

Testaments would be distributed, regardless of recipients’ religious beliefs, as part of the society’s “outreach” programme for the Games. “In the previous Games in Edinburgh it was suggested that people who came from other faiths might find the New Testament offensive, then we discovered there was going to be a bottle of Scottish whisky in every pack,” he said. “For people who are Muslim and don’t drink alcohol that would be offensive ... this is no more offensive than that” Mr Reed said the society could not sort out who might accept the gifts. “This is supposed to be a Christian country.” Those involved in the “outreach” were hoping to gain some converts during the Games, he said.

The society would also distribute a leaflet featuring “appropriate parts of the Bible related to physical activity.”