OLYMPIC GAMES

Southland Times, Issue 19894, 12 June 1926, Page 8

OLYMPIC GAMES

LACK OF SUPPORT NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION THREAT TO DISBAND. (Special to the Times.) Wellington, June 11. Lack of support has led the New Zealand Olympic Council to threaten to disband. Commencing as far back a* July 9, 1925, the council has made eight attempts to get a meeting and each time that meeting has lapsed for want of a quorum. If the council carries out its threat New Zealand will not only be unrepresented at the next Olympic Games but the body which arranges representation will cease to exist. In a statement last night Mr C. G. Camp, secretary of the council, stated that after the failure of the meeting called for July 9 of last year the council had sent out notices for two further meetings and then had asked various associations to re-appoint delegates. The names of these delegates had been received at the beginning of December and a meeting had been called for January 26. This failed as did four subsequent meetings. Mr. P. Hr Rundle (representing the New Zealand Swimming Association) : It is extraordinary when you consider that the public and associations would set up a tremendous outcry if we were to neglect to send representatives to the Olympia and yet support is not forthcoming. We often hear the cry: "What is the council doing?” The question is what are other people doing? Mr. J. W. Heenan :..I think that undoubtedly the fault is at the door of our constituent associations. As bodies they certainly have not shown any live interest in this organisation since the last Olympic games, even then their interest was not too live. There is not the slightest doubt that these associations must bear the whole blame and that not an atom of blame can be laid on the general public. Nothing of any value can be done by this council even if we got full attendances every time meetings were called unless we have behind us the active support of every association in New Zealand, not only for these Olympic games or those Olympic games but for the Olympic games generally. There is no doubt that each association is wrapped up in its particular work and does not move until just before the games and then only if one of its athletes shows promise of being in the Olympic class, in amateur athletics, boxing, swimming and rowing to mention only four sports in which New Zealand is likely to be interested. The Olympic games to-day are in effect, the world’s amateur championships and are soon likely to be the world’s amateur championships in sporting law. The growth of the games has been astonishing. The report of the British Olympic Committee shows that whereas in 1920 there were 29 nations competing, in 1924 there were 45 nations taking part. The spirit of enthusiasm is still growing and it is inevitable that in 1928 not an important nation in the world will be unrepresented. Is New Zealand going to drop out of the running at a time when every other nation in the world is entering the Olympic games with enthusiasm ? It seems incredible to me. Since the last Olympic games a new light has been thrown upon rowing by the great success of the eight-oar crew which we sent to Australia last year. The present summer in England may show that our New Zealand track athletes must be sent to Amsterdam in 1928. In swimming too, fresh young stars have arisen. Mr. Rundle: Practically a new set of swimming records has been created. There has been more progress in swimming in the last eighteen months than the previous ten years could show. Mr. Heenan went on to say that the* progress of amateur sport in the Dominion could be helped considerably by the knowledge that once in every four years the best of the material available would be sent to the Olympic games. Mr. Rundle: When I contemplate the miserable fiasco of our attempt to raise funds in 1923-24 I feel discouraged and begin to think that the best thing we can do is to disband. If we are not represented at the next Olympic games the public may have something to say. We can demonstrate where the blame belongs. Mr. A. W. Travers: I am a new member. May I ask how the athletes would get to the games if we were to disband? Mr. Rundle: They wouldn’t get there at all. It would bring matters to a head. New Zealand would not be represented. Mr. Travers: But suppose a new swimmer came on in the meantime, an absolute world beater. What then. He could not go? Mr. Rundle: No. '<r. Travers: Not even through Australia Mr. Rundle: Not even through Australia. Mr. Heenan: It «eems to me that Mr. Rundle’s suggestion is the only thing that will arouse the public. Mr. Travers: The best thing we can do is to send in our resignations. Mr. Rundell introduced a resolution to this effect and the meeting decided to communicate with the associations drawing attention to the constant failure of meetings, and stating that the active delegates proposed to resign as a protest, and that the council would thus automatically cease to exist. Failing concerted action by the affiliated associations before July 31 the council will consider the winding up of the New Zealand Olympic Games Association.