THE OLYMPIC APPEAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20108, 29 March 1928, Page 6

THE OLYMPIC APPEAL

REPLY TO CRITICISM MISUNDERSTANDINGS EXPLAINED | Special '•Chronicle” Service. J WELLINGTON, Alareh 28. “There has been widespread criticism of the New Zealand Olympic Council because of the position of the Oiympic fund,” said Air H. Amos, chairman of the Council to-day. “But the majority of people misunderstand the position. “The constitution of the New Zealand Olympic Council was remodelled only within the last few mouths and; though many attempts were made to form branches in the various centres very little assistance was forthcoming, from the various centres and sporting organisations. Moreover, meetings called for the purpose of establishing branches have been very poorly attended. Towards the end of last year I visited Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Invercargill and Gore for the purpose of establishing live branches, but little assistance was forthcoming from sports bodies. Sportsmen were advised of the meetings and very few attended and as a result the New Zealand Association came to the conclusion that it would carry on its appeal for this year’s Olympic Games from Wellington, with the assistance of the few branches that were prepared to help. This decision was reached the more readily because sufficient time was not available thoroughly to organise the various bodies throughout New Zealand. In the circumstances a considerable amount of overlapping was inevitable, but the Council managed to overcome this at last, and copies of the minutes of all meetings held, together with pamphlets and appeal letters were sent to branches and to ail sporting bodies. Alost of these were left unanswered and the Council was forced to send reply-paid telegrams in order to ascertain what various bodies were doing.

‘ ‘ Despite the amount of literature which has appeared in the Press there is still general misunderstanding of the aims of the Olympic Association. They arc these: The promotion of physical fitness, the stimulating of the love of games and the provision of p.lying fields. We seek to end the state of affairs in which large numbers of people sit upon the bank and watch others playing games, while not playing any games themselves. The movement is not aimed at tne production of champions so much as the. stimulation of physical fitness, and that this is a worthy and highly necessary ideal the recruiting statistics of the last war proved. To stimulate the athlete we hold out the hope that if he develops sufficiently he will be sent to the Olympic Games, and if he is of world standard and a gentleman and fit to represent his country in a worthy manner wc hold that, it is only right that he. should be sent to the games. “The criticism of the Council for the delay which is alleged to have occurred is made by people who forget that two years ago the Council was receiving so little support that it had to consider winding up the association. The trouble all along is that local bodies have expected ton mon in Vi oilington to do the job instead of getting busy themselves.”