OLYMPIC GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 28, 2 August 1927, Page 11

OLYMPIC GAMES

DOMINION TEAM

QUESTION OF SELECTION

COURSE TO BE FOLLOWED

The list of athletes prepared by the various sports bodies and forwarded to the Council of the New Zealand Olympic Games' Association for consideration in the selection of the team to represent the Dominion at the Olympic Games at Amsterdam next year, have been the subject of a certain amount of criticism in some quarters. A statement was made in Auckland recently that all sense of proportion appeared to have been lost by some officials in nommating athletes in their particular sport. Swimming, it was considered, was a branch of sport in which there had been a "flagrant over-estimation of capabilities." The Selection Committee of the New Zealand Olympic Games' Association has prepared a report as to the methods it considers should be followed in selecting the New Zealand representatives. The committee feels certain that the various national associations would not nominate representatives who are not up to Olympic standard. NATIONAL COMMITTEE'S FUNCTIONS. The report declares that it is laid down by the International Olympic Committee that the functions of the various National' Olympic Committees with regard to entries for the Olympic Games are to receive and forward entries which are sent to them by the National Associations, after having signed the declaration that each competitor is an amateur according to both his association's and' the Dlympic definition of an amateur. The effect of that, of course, was that the i body to s;.v, for instance, whether ;.ny particular track athlete should represent New Zealand was the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, and its importance in New Zealand might be illustrated thus —The Olympic Council would not send any athlete selected by it against the wish of the national governing body of his sport. It was well to bear that in mind when approaching the question of the selection of New Zealand's next Olympic team. PURPOSE OF ASSOCIATION. The Olympic Association wa» constituted among other purposes to secure New Zealand adequate representation at the Olympic Games. It, in conjunction with sports bodies and other organisations, was endeavouring to finance the composite team, recognising (a) That the National Association have not themselves tho necessary funds, and that it is not desirable to ask them to bankrupt themselves for this purpose, (b) That an appeal by each National Association in competition with the other? is not desirable, (c) That the Olympic Council as representing all of them is the proper body to make an appeal and more likely to succeed. The rights of each National Association to say who in its- particular sport was worthy of being sent were not to be obscured. Although as individual members of the Olympic Council had between them expert knowledge of all the Olympic sports in which .tho Dominion's representation was at present practicable, the council as a body must defer to the council of tho New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, for instance, on the question of the merits of track and field ahtletics. The task of selecting the Olympic team, therefore, was not solely one for a Selection Committee appointed by the Olympic Council. SELECTION OF TEAM. In the opinion of the committee, tho following course should be followed in selecting the team:— 1. The Olympic Council should appoint a Selection Committee and request the councils of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, New Zealand Amateur Bowing Association, New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, and New Zealand Boxing Association each to appoint a selection committee. 2. The Olympic Council's Selection Committee should lay down the broad general policy to govern selections and ask each of the National Association's to make its nominations in accordance with that policy. "3. In the event of more athletes being recommended than the Olympic Association can send to Amsterdam with the funds at its disposal, the members be reduced by the Olympic Council's Selection Committee after a consultation with a joint committee composed of one representative from each of the National Association selection committees. "Your committee feels that no fear need be entertained of the various national associations nominating representatives who are not <up to Olympic standard. The experience of tho past three Olympiads has been rather that the national associations, if anything, under-rate the capacity of their athletes. POLICY TO BE FOLLOWED. "As to the broad general policy to be laid down, we unhesitatingly recommend a continuance of the policy of the past, namely:—(a) That no athlete bo nominated who is not up to Olympic standard; (b) that 'Olympic standard' be defined as meaning a reasonable chance of reaching an Olympic final. It is unreasonable to demand of any athlete that he should be next door to a certainty for Ms event. If that policy were adopted generally throughout the world there would bo no competition in distance running, for instance, when a Nurmi is on the scene. The Olympic . Games are the world's amateur championships. Each Olympic final (speaking generally) is contested by the six who are left after the eliminating rounds. A country that can produce the worst of those six has produced a really great athlete. It is no small honour also to produce one of the twelve who contest an Olympic semifinal. EDUCATIONAL SIDE. "Then again there is the educative side of the games, and though in 1920, for instance, New Zealand sent D. Hadfield and H. E. Wilson, because as Army athletes they had, each in his own sport, proved themselves to be among the world's best. G. Davidson and Miss Walrond were sent because of their outstanding promise and not because we seriously thought they would succeed. And yet each reached a final. HAROLD ABRAHAMS' VIEWS. "We have outlined above what has been the policy of the past, and recommend that from its success it be adhered to in the future. It is interesting to note that these views are the views of others. For instance, in an article in the latest issue of the 'British Olympic Journal,' Mr. Harold Abrahams, who, apart from being tho present Olympic 100 metres champion, is one of "the outstanding figures in the British Olympic movement, has the following to say: " 'In truth, an honest facing of the facts with regard to the Olympic Games would do no ono any harm. Dealing with the athletic section alone, 45 nations sent representatives to tho 1924 Olympic Games at Paris. These men were the best that could bo found from a population of some hundreds of millions. And yet there were only a score or so who could proudly claim the dis-

tinction of being world champions, unce this position is appreciated in its true perspective, we should be able to get the whole Games into a proper focus. It is- quite absurd to become depressed because we get so few winners. Obviously, as more and more people participate the standard becomes higher and still higher, so that an Olympic winner of 25 years ago would be fortunate to reach the final of his event to-day. In my submission we should be content to send our best representatives, provided their achievements justify the selectors in thinking that they have a reasonable chance of being iv the hunt. Two types of men should be selected: those who are within striking distance of Olympic standard, and those who are yonng enough to suggest that four years will see in them a great improvement, and to whom the benefits of super-competition and tho contact with super-men will be of infinite assistance.' "

The committee feels that an appeal to send a New Zealand Olympic team selected along these lines will meet with a hearty response from the people of the Dominion.