OLYMPIC GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 155, 28 December 1935, Page 19

OLYMPIC GAMES

NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION

Will New Zealand be represented in the track and field section at the Berlin Olympic' Games other than by J. E. Lovelock? This is a. question which is occasioning considerable diversity of opinion at the present time. Some critics are most ..definite, that this country should not be. represented; others that the matter: should 'be determined by the result of the; current season's performances. It is difficult to appreciate the attitude- adopted by the former. Their argument.is,"-of course, that we have no-athletes who have any.chance: of, placing well in any. event {at' the! Games. we.--haven't, but: it is too early t6 proclaim' this fact with any certainty; . '" '■ ; ■•■■ ;.:y

Actually our standard, judged'on last season's form (there is no reason to think that it will not be as; high this/ summer) i is, ; as a whole, as good today; as it has.eyeribeen. .Indeed,'in' one or two.events, it;is,definitely 'better. The; same treatment sh6ul(l,be Siccorded'the: performers of 1936' as .was'given those of other Olympic years. If. thereare any athletes who measure.right up to the standard of the very best men'of the past, and there are funds available, then serious consideratiorrmusti be given their .claims, j' Much bis been' said about the,high standard of competition which will be the order in Berlin. That it will be high no one denies, but •it will not be" any more fierce, .than at Los Angeles, in 1932. :' - -'. ~: ''. ASSURANCE IMPOSSIBLE, ; "Why should:an athlete, if. he -proves himself this summer to be of the same calibre as' the great men of the past, suffer because there is a body of opinion that believes New Zealand should refrain from participation in the Olympic Games until there is a reasonable assurance that' her representatives will find'a place in. the finals? ■If -this;attitude were adopted, then the Dominion would never be ■. represented, because nothing can ever be assured so far as the Olympic Games are, concerned. There is no doubt, of course, that in earlier years representatives were dispatched, who had no just claim to the honour, and for this reason a stringent standard of performance, should be insisted upon this season.' If any men reach the desired level, or excel it, then their claims must be viewed in the light of merit, and the financial position.-.