CHAMPION ATHLETES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 122, 20 November 1922, Page 8

CHAMPION ATHLETES

AMERICANS ACCEPT INVITATION

PADDOCK INCLUDED IN TEAM.

The council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was able to announce to-day that the tour of an American team of athletes to New Zealand during the present season is definitely assured, and that the members of the team will include the world-famous sprinter, Charles Paddock, who has established many record performances during the past few years. Mr. A. Davies, chairman of the N.Z.A.A.A. Council, informed a "Post" reporter that the following cablegram had been received from the Califoruian Amateur Athletic Association : —.

"Paddock O.K. Must leave two weeks. Can secure team mates. Thompson impossible. Cable instructions." Although the inability of Earl Thompson, the world's champion hurdler, to make the trip will be regretted, the news that Paddock is able to come will be received with much satisfaction by all interested in amateur athletics. The appearance of the world's greatest sprinter will arouse enthusiasm, and should make this season one of the most notable in the history of the sport in the Dominion. The athletes accompanying Paddock will, no doubt, be of high class, and in the absence of information concerning them, it is thought they will be men capable of making up one of the finest relay teams that has ever been on tour. The hope is expressed that Bay, the American champion half-mile and mile runner, will be in the quartette. When the New Zealand Council sent the invitation forward, the arrangements proposed were that the visitors should arrive here towards the end of January and spend about seven weeks in the Dominion, but an alteration will now be necessary in view of the advice in the cable that. the Americans must leave in two weeks' time. The cable has come to h&nd at an opportune time, as the annual meeting the N.Z.A.A.A. is being held this evening. It will be necessary to make immediate arrangements for the tour, and these will be considered at tonight's'meeting. The instructions requir. Ed by the Americans will be cabled after the matter has been discussed to-night.

The tour is to be financed by New Zealand, the various centres arid subcentres' having consented to make guarantees. The larger centres have each guaranteed £100. al"i "* tne arrangement of the itinerary they will have first claim to Saturday meetings. The smaller towns will also be visited, but only in possibly one or two cases will it be possible for them to have a" visit from the Americans on a Saturday.