ATHLETES' VISIT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 143, 14 December 1938, Page 11

ATHLETES' VISIT

PERMISSION TAGGED

TWENTY-ONE DAYS'RULE

Advice has been received by cable from the Amateur Athletic Union of Australia by Mr. H. McCormick, secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, that permission has been granted the two Victorian athletes. G. Backhouse and E. W. Best, to visit New Zealand at the invitation of the Otago Amateur Athletic Centre. There is, however, a tag to the permission which will probably . cause some concern and which may lead to the itinerary having to bt modified. The tag is that the tour is to be subject to compliance with the International Amateur Athletic Federation's rule prohibiting athletes from being away on tour for more than twentyone days, except under special circumstances.

The Wellington Amateur Athletic Centre is interested in the tour, for the reason that arrangements have been made with the Otago Centre for the two Victorians to appear on the Basin Reserve on. January 7. The centre proposes to make this a special -meeting. Whether, in view of the proviso attaching to the tour, the Wellington Centre's arrangements may be affected is not at present known. There was some surprise expressed this afternoon, however, that the Australian Union should adopt the attitude it has in regard to the tour.

Under the 21-days' rule an extension can be given the athlete by the controlling, association in his country if he is selected by that association to take part in the Olympic Games or to represent his country in matches against another country, and there is provision also for fee council of the International Amateur Athletic * Federation to make extensions in other cases if it deems proper.

The rule is quite definite, but apparently it has been overlooked by the Otago Centre, or else, in view of past experience of the visits by Australian teams, it was not thought necessary to apply for an extension. Since the introduction of this rule the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association.' -when it has been inviting teams from, say, America, has always been able to get a dispensation of the rule from the International Federation, but for which it would have been' impossible to bring athletes from far afield.