THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15433, 20 April 1912, Page 4

THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

CHAMPION'S POSITION. AN UNFORTUNATE HITCH. (I'kr United I'ircsa Association.) AUCKLAND, April 19. An unfortunate hitch has occurred in „ho arrangements to have the Dominion represented by .Mr Champion, of Auckland, in the siviinnuns section of the Fifth Olympiad, at Stockholm. When it was lirst suggested that Champion should lie tent to .Stockholm what appeared to Ih> an insurmountable obstacle arose in thi' limineiim of the tour. Tlio stumbling-block hud Invh the matter of providing for the support of Champion's family during his ideencc. Last week the question was solved by the member* of the comiiiittvo of the Wuiteniala Swimming Club iudivifinally puarnntcoiu;,' a very large proporlion of tlie amount required, and Champion therefore left for Wellington on Tues(lay evening. It was not anticipated that Wiy trouble, woukl bo caused bj thu Now Zealand 1 Olympio Council, «ll)iout.'li oiviiiß to tlio linsto in which arrangements had to be comph>ted that lnxly could not lm consulted before Champion left Auckland, ■ Since Champion left, however, the New Zoalaud Olympic Council has tteppetl in with a statement that it does not recognise .Mis ('liampion in the matter, and will demand tl.at i'lOS.'apart from Champion's passagemoney, already paid, .•■hall bo hainlid our fo it. "Tliis moans that thu tor.ncil really demands £115 before nomiuatini: Champion for the Olympiad. While tlio Waitcmata. Club's committee does not object to paying reasonable managerial expenses, it faiU to see the necessity for the provision of as inttclt as £65 above, its estimate. Tlio Olympic Council, it is said, ewn went so far as to threaten to send Chnmpiou back to Auckland unless arrangements wore made to send the money it (remands tliiviisli it; but so far as n known Cham--pioit lias already left Wollinston fur London. Champion will compete for KnglWi swimming championships, for which he is hoius iioti'.iitalcd by the New Zealand Swimming Association, and will aim visit Stockholm, wheth.'t lip is nominated for the Olympiad or not. Ho will be available to tepreseiil New Zealand in the Olympic Games, ar&l it remains to he seen what the New Zealand Olympic Council will ilo. CHAMPION UKTURNINC. lIOMK. (I'eb Unmtkii l'mas Association.) AUCKLAND, April 19. The secretary of the Waitcmata Swimming Club received a telegram ial<> this livening: from Cliiimpioit, stating that ho hid not *aih\l for England and the Olympiad, ami «iis returning' to Auckland from Wellington by Saturday's express.