REINSTATED ATHLETES

Evening Star, Issue 22639, 4 May 1937, Page 4

REINSTATED ATHLETES

ANOMALOUS POSITION IN COMPETITION INELIGIBILITY FOR EMPIRE CRISES [By Pistol.] The anomalous position that exists concerning tho position of reinstated athletes in tho Dominion was the subject of considerable discussion at the meeting of the Otago Centro of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association this week, and the decision of the New Zealand Council to take no action with a view to seeing if permission could be obtained from the British Empire Games Association for reinstated men to compete at the Empire Games in Sydney was freely criticised. That the reinstated athletes feel very strongly in-tho matter themselves may be gleaned from the remarks passed by Mr A. A. Cameron, who is the North Otago Club’s delegate on the centre and who himself • would surely be a member of the New Zealand team but for the rule debarring reinstated men. Mr Cameron became a professional when living in the country, as so many other subsequently reinstated men did, and he asked tho question at Tuesday’s centre meeting: “ What is the good of professionals becoming reinstated if they are not allowed to compete outside of New Zealand P” Reinstated men have competed at the Empire Games. New Zealand sent one such athlete to Los Angeles in 1932—D0n Evans—and a fine athlete he proved himself to bo in amateur ranks over a long period of years, being still one of the Dominion’s best middledistance men. Tho explanation given for his being permitted to compete at the Olympic Games was that he had unknowingly competed as a professional, or words to that effect, but it would be interesting if information were forthcoming as to how his case differs from that of such men as A. 'A. Cameron, M. R. Spillane,, and A. R. Wilson, all of whom are reinstated athletes.

There is a rigid rule debarring reinstated men from competing at the Empire Games, but at the conference of delegates at Auckland recently a recommendation was carried that the council should approach the British Empire Games Association to see if reinstated men could not be permitted to compete at the Games. This recommendation was not ratified by the council which apparently thought no food purpose could be served by so oing. The Otago Centre has now sought the support of other centres in the matter, which is one concerning every centre, in the Dominion, although it is recognised that there appears little likelihood of a change being made in time for next year’s Empire Games. Visiting overseas athletes are able to compete against reinstated nun in New Zealand without endangering their amateur status. Why 1 should they not be allowed to compete oh the same terms at the Empire Games In Sydney, for instance? There appears to be' nothing to prevent a reinstated athlete from establishing a New Zealand or world’s record. Why, then, should they not have the honour of representing their country at such a gathering as the Empire Games? That most of these reinstated men are amateurs at heart is shown by the good work they do on securing reinstatement, for it has been tho writer’s experience that the reinstated athletes usually show a willingness and keenness to coach young amateurs and to assist the sport in every way possible. Over a period of years, the reinstated athletes have had more than their share of success at New Zealand Championship meetings, which indicates that had they remained in professional ranks, a good deal of money would have come their way, instead of which they showed a preference to participate in the sport for the sport’s sake alone. Probably the only reason that many reinstated athletes competed as professionals in the first place was the lack of opportunity to take part in amateur competition in their respective districts, and some of the leading men among them have committed no greater breach than that, perhaps, of having competed at the local professional fixtures once or twice a year. When the Centenary Games were held in Melbourne—a meeting at which British athletes took part—T. J. Crowe, an ex-professional, was permitted to represent New Zealand, yet the same athlete would not be eligible to represent the Dominion at tho Empire Games. Surely, a strange position ? The question of reinstated athletes and their participation in competition overseas is a live and important one in New Zealand, and, whatever the outcome of the Otago Centre’s representations, only a good purpose can be achieved by directing the attention of the ruling authorities to the position as it exists in New Zealand.