Helleur May Be Games Competitor

Northern Advocate, 3 November 1949, Page 4

Helleur May Be Games Competitor

Norman Helleur, of Whangarei, may be allowed to compete in the Empire Games boxing trials. Helleur, who is a Loughborough College graduate, was ruled a professional by the council of the New Zealand Boxing Association. “This case is a borderline one,” said the chairman (Mr C. Rex Moore) at a meeting of the organising committee of the Games.

He said an athlete's status was determined by the way the law of professionalism was interpreted in his particular sport.

However, the Empire Games Association was considering the matter. AMATEUR STATUS An elucidation of the status of physical education teachers and physical welfare officers in regard to competitive athleics was supplied at a meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association's management committee.

After hearing various authorities cited, the following ruling was made:— “For purposes of competition in New Zealand a person who is a qualified teacher of physical education as recognised by the Education Department, or a physical welfare officer as recognised by the Internal Affairs Department, does not lose his amateur status by being employed as a physical education teacher in a Government department or a recognised educational establishment, but such person’s employment must not be solely in teaching athletics, and he must not engage in private athletic training or coaching for money or other pecuniary reward." ADVISE FEDERATION The International Federation is to be advised of this ruling.

The federation is also to be referred to a similar English ruling on the matter and will be asked that approval be given to these rulings for interr tionai competition.

Mr L. A. Tracy read letters from the Internal Affairs Department and the Education Department, which indicated that their views were that, the men in question should be regarded as amateurs.