The Games

Press, 2 November 1989, Page 36

The Games

Entry forms sent

Seven thousand competition entry forms have been mailed to participating countries. Twenty-six different forms have been produced — one for each individual sport (men and women) — in addition to forms for team events. The entries must be back with the organisers by January 5. They were sent through Air New Zealand and diplomatic mail bags. What you may, or may not want to know, is that if laid end to end the forms would stretch 13km and assuming each competitor enters an average of two events, there will be 6000 forms to process in five days.

Did you know

Competitors in the Games shooting events will fire an estimated 56,832 shots at the three ranges. That does not include practice and sighting shots. And on the bowling greens, working on the assumption there will be 246 bowlers competing, and 416 games played, 149,060 bowls will be delivered, not including killed ends. That adds up to 750 tonnes of bowls rolling up and down the greens, and the bowlers will trudge an estimated 1920 km following the bowls and changing ends.

Thumbs Up

A representative of the Crippled Children Society has toured Games venues and is generally happy with the access provided for disabled spectators. Russell Vickery gave the organisers some additional ideas. For example he wanted to ensure that wheelchair occupants would not have to negotiate turnstiles.

Accreditation

The massive job of providing accreditation for the thousands of people associated with the Games has started. Two staff are working full-time entering data into a Un-

isys computer. Technical officials, V.I.P.s, technical aides, volunteers and members of the Games family will be the first to be accredited. After entering the information the next job is to establish access rights for individuals, i.e. determining to which venues accredited people will need access.

Latest entry

The tiny island state of Nauru, better known for its reserves of phosphate than its world class athletes, is the latest nation to enter the Games. It will have a small team al Auckland and its confirmation of attendance brings the total number of countries entered to 57.

Range praised

The manager of the Australian shooting team for the Games, John McFarlane, visited the Ardmore range recently, the venue for smallbore events. He said the range would make a superb competition venue, and in his opinion was the best in the Commonwealth.

Village extension

A Glen Innes warehouse had been, included in the Games Village. The spartan building will not be overflow sleeping quarters for competitors. It will provide a weight training room, games and video centre and a laundry. Road race

The recent national road cycling championships held on the Games course provided the cycling officials with a chance to test their organisation. There were a few hiccups but the organisers were happy with the relatively smooth running of the event and the cyclists were impressed by the course. The Ministry of Transport which had to close and control the 14.4 km circuit was also pleased with their organisation.