OLYMPIC TEAMS

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 19 November 1932, Page 8

OLYMPIC TEAMS

NEW ZEALANDERS UNDER* RATED FEDERATION PRESIDENT’S VIEW “NO COUNTRY HAS BETTER MATERIAL.” In a letter to the chairman of the New Zealand Olympic Association ;Mr H. Amos), Count de Baillet-Latour, president of the International Olympic Committee, thanks the Dominion •or the manner in which his visit to New Zealand has been received, and also makes very interesting comment on New Zealand’s connection with Olympic Games and on the Dominion’s attitude toward its own team. During his visit to New- Zealand the distinguished Belgian showed a capacity for making straightforward comment in a tactful manner, and this gift is displayed in his letter, in which he declares that New Zealanders hardly do justice to their Olympic representatives. The letter states : r “I take this final opportunity in saying once more that, for New Zealand, the International Olympic Committee has for many years had the highest regard. The manner in fi'hich this little country—many thousands oi miles from the various scenes of action —has, without a break in the se quence, sent teams to all Olympic Ganies from London in. 1908, to Los Angeles in 1932, has been an example which we of "the International Olympic Committee, on every opportune occasion, hold up to other nations. “If I have one little -word of criticism to voice of the attitude of the people of New Zealand, it is that I think they hardly do justice* to* their representatives at. the Ganies. I have sensed a tendency. to underrate* their prowess, with the consequent feeling that the money spent m sending them •would have been better used in New Zealand.

“All this has surprised me, knowing- as I do the high opinion held by other countries (of the wondelrfuily high standard of achievement by your representatives—in track and field', swimming, roiving, boxing and cycling —in face of difficulties not encountered bv other nations. The records of the Games from 1908 onward show the prominent position of New Zealand athletes. That you have won? but one Olympic title is entirely beside the point. I can assure the people of New Zealand that any athlete or any creiw of rowers, for instance, whq, at anv Olympic Games can get throng’ll to a semi-final is a very notable rtlilete or crew indeed. “I wonder if this lack v f pnde (lor such it is) is due* in any ineasr? to New Zealand’s great devotion to one particular sport—Rugby 1 football—m which she has made a world-famous name. AVhat does seem to me apparent from my brief stay is*, that when New Zealand really has the* desire to excel in other sports as she* has excelled in Rugby football, her athletes, her rowers, her swimmers, her boxers, her cyclists: and others wall become world-renowned as victors in the Games. , ~ , “No other country has better material with which to work. No other country, and I say this emphatically, has done so much through its general and local governing authorities to provide the open spaces so necessary tor physical and athletic development of the youth of any nation. “What is necessary is improvement in the equipment of grounds (cinder tracks, for instance), and the benefit of expert coaching. . .this latter not merely in the interests of ever higher achievement, but, more important still, so that wrong wethods causing actual physical harm may he avoided. But this is not all. Even more important is the spur of international competition such as the Games admirably offer and the feeling <sf the athleten that their own countrymen are behind “I would not have it thought from what I have already said that sport should he exalted beyond its proper sphere in life, nor do* I think that such an essentially well-balanced people as New Zealanders are likely to make such an error. But while* still treating sport as one of life’s relaxations, it is proper to treat it with the respect that is it due; and most proper for .each exponent to develop to the full' his natural gifts. “Conversely, it is necessary to realise that just as among the anciept Greeks, with us in this 20th century sport is one of the great factors not only in round-off the life of anv nation, but in promoting goodwill among nations. People l wfio pl a Y together show an ever-increasmg reluctance, to fight each other. Slowly hut Surely the Olympic movement is shoiving definite results in this direction. “T would crave attention on tins point not so much from the youth as from the mature age- Zealand. Youth is concerned with the enjoy ment of sport-age, with its educative nrirl moral aspects., “AVhat has particularly struck me 111 mv all-too-brief visit, has been th© enthusiastic and intelligent administration and executive management of *lO- - sports. But tl« »« and women who so public spiritedly give much more than merely their spare Se to this particular work, have naturally few free moments for consideration of more general issues. there are men of high standing in various spheres of New Zealand life who, excellent sportsmen themselves mtheir younger days, have no such ties lo them I do appeal that they fi’ill interest themselves in the wider question ip a way that, will he of greatei permanent vilue that the erous donations of money. I would have such men (and women too) give their active support to the New Zealand Olympic Council in its fioik on our -behalf. By word and deed let them help in the education <?f tl people in the Olympic ideals I have met numbers of such men in various mirts of New Zealand whose .personal influence in their own districts, exerted at very little cost of time and trouble to themselves, could do much more than they perhaps m theirL a p.°nd ©sty realise, to raise New Zealand snort to an even higher plan© J^ a . n that on which is now has its being, and to make it an ever .more vital factor in the moral, well-being of yotn gW-ious little oountuy. They can best do this by becoming actively interested in the work of your National Olympic Association.”