OLYMPIC SWIMMERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 30 November 1928, Page 3

OLYMPIC SWIMMERS.

COMPLAINTS OF THEIR TREATMENT

N.Z. COUNCIL ASKS FOR EXPLANATION. (Uy Teisgrapli—rress Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 29. Definite complaints against the treatment of the Olympic swimmers on their tour to Europe were betore the New Zealand Swimming Council at the annual meeting to-night. The secretary, Air. B.O’Neill, produced correspondence which showed that the Dominion manager of the ulympic team, on behalf of the swimming council, had arranged for Air. J. Hodgson, its representative in England, to accompany the team to Amsterdam to look after the swimmers. Air. O’jNTeill said. Air. H. Amos, the manager, agreed with this pi an.

The council had before it- a. report from Mr. Hodgson. It stated Mr. Amos had ignored him and the swimmers were given no- reasonable chance for proper training. Mr. Hodgson stated in his letter that lie was excluded from the official party to Amsterdam and that there the women were left to train in “a filthy, oily dock.” At the Games lie learned that the dock had earned the name “Typhoid Pool” owing to the odour and the nasty taste of the water. American ami German swimmers hail been forbidden to train there. Air. O'Neill said the association and Mr. Hodgson had been submitted to a series of indignities which would not be accepted without the livliest resentment. Had the association known what the swimmers would have suffered under the handicaps, which Mr. Amos’s management permitted, it would not have allowed the team to depart. The council decided to demand a full and immediate statement from Air. Amos and the Olympic Council. Further 1 action was deferred cantime.