OLYMPIC GAMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23672, 2 December 1938, Page 10

OLYMPIC GAMES

DOMINION REPRESENTATION LIMITATION TO BEST CLASS EARLY DEPARTURE SUGGESTED (Special to Daily Times) WELLINGTON, Dec. 1. A decision to advise the national association that it had been suggested that New Zealand should send a very small team to the Olympic Games in Finland in July, 1940, that it should arrive in England three or four months before that date, and that it should consist only of those competitors who were really in top world class was made by the council of the New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association at its meeting tonight. The national associations are 4 be asked to consider the position and advise the council within three months, when a definite decision will be made.

Introducing the subject, the chairman (Mr H. McCormick) said it was going to be fairly expensive to send men to Finland and it seemed to him that any team New Zealand sent should be a very small one. In the past the association had had a great deal of difficulty in knowing just when to send a team away. He had discussed the question with Mr J. E. Lovelock, who had said that ideally one way was to land the men some months beforehand at or near the scene of the competition to give them a proper opportunity to become acclimatised. “What 1 have in mind," Mr McCormick said, “is that this might be an occasion when if we have just perhaps two or three men we think are really up to world class we might land them in England three or four months before the opening of the Games. It is disappointing to send away men we know are pretty good and who do not show their form.”

Mr McCormick added that at present he could see only two men in New Zealand who appeared to be worth sending—V. P. Boot and C. H Matthews—although others might appear. If there were only two, he felt it might be worth sending them, perhaps three or four months before the Games opened, to give them a real chance to become acclimatised and produce their best form. The Olympic Games authorities in Australia were already on the job. If the men were sent early they would have to be selected substantially on this season’® form. Mr J. D. Willis (Dominion Wrestling Union): I think we should first make up our minds on the possible size of the team. In the past we have sent classes of athletes who have had no show at all. At present I think Boot and Matthews are the only (wo who have a chance. Mr A. D. Bayfield (New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association) said the cost per man would probably be £3OO if the team was to be sent early. "While it is necessary to move early in the matter, we have to be rather careful in starting to select men at this stage.” said Mr A. C. Kitto (New Zealand Rugby Union). “We have practically 18 months yet. and some other star may appear on the horizon It is not advisable to say too early just who will go. I agree that wo should send only men who have a possible chance in world class.” Mr McCormick said the team would have to leave New Zealand about the end of February, 1940. if it was to be sent early. He moved that the national associations be advised that it had been suggested that New Zealand should send a very small team to Finland. that it should arrive in England throe or four months before the Games begin, that the team should consist only of those competitors who are really in top world class, and that the national associations should consider the position and let the council know their views within three months. “After that, we can have another meeting of the council and come to « decision he said. The motion was seconded by Mr j W. Steele (Dominion Wrestling Union) and carried.