CREDIT TO THEIR COUNTRIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17346, 29 September 1924, Page 8

CREDIT TO THEIR COUNTRIES.

THE OLYMPIC GAMES. RETURN OF ATHLETES. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, September 29. Two of New Zealand’s representatives at the Olympic Games, Miss Gwitha Shand and C. Purdy, returned by the Tahiti to-day with a party of Australian representatives, including “Boy” Charlton, R. Eve and A. W. Winter, world’s champions in their respective branches of sport. Mr Merrett, manager of the Australian team, stated that the trip had been a wonderful one. The Australian end New Zealand competitors received great receptions, as the peoples of other nations seemed to realise that the representatives of these countries were at a great disadvantage in having to travel so far. The opposition at tlie Games had been terrific. Even so. the Australians and New Zealanders had done their conntries credit. Tn the blue riband of athletic events, Porritt, New Zealand’s representative, put up a great performance. It was a thrilling sight to see the New Zealand flag flying at the Olympic stadium, and sixty thousand people honouring it. Australia achieved most success in the swimming events, in which Charlton was responsible for a brilliant achievement, wining the 150 metres in world’s record

Tn reply to a question about the future of the Games. Mr Merrett said in his opinion it would be a great disaster it the Games were abandoned. Ninetyfive per cent of the events were admirably controlled and well contested. He also expressed the opinion that it would be only a matter of a few years for tennis at the Olympic Games to he recognised as of just as much importance as the Davis Cup. In the course of an interview. Purdy complained rather bitterly concerning the control of boxing at the Olympic Games. He said it would not have satisfied novices in other parts of the world. He had to train himself, and even when working in the gymnasium in Paris lie had no one to keep time for him. He expressed the opinion that he had won the contest with the Frenchman Tholey by a wide margin, hut he did not receive the decision. The American judge gave him nine out of the ten points, but the other two decided against him. 1 He announces his intention of joining the ranks of the professionals in the very neaff future.