Inquiries Whether Empire Games Teams Will Tour In N.Z.

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 December 1949, Page 5

Inquiries Whether Empire Games Teams Will Tour In N.Z.

LONDON, Dec. 14 (Recd. 7.30 p.m.) —Although they make it plain that they are not seeking invitations and will in no way feel slighted if they are not extended, the Empire Games authorities in Britain are anxious to know whether any plans are being made in New Zealand for appearances by members of the British Empire Games team at athletic and other sports fixtures in the Dominion after the termination of the Games in Auckland on February 11. Present plans for the British team provide for the departure of the air party—which will number about 40— on February 16, and for the departure of the sea party, numbering about 30, on February 28. Some time ago the authorities here sent a letter to the organising committee for the Games in New Zealand asking whether members of the British team were likely to be asked to appear at meetings in other parts of the country after the end of the Games.

No reply has yet been received to this letter and in the meantime the Australian athletic authorities have extended an invitation to the British Empire Games athletes to return home by way of Australia and participate in meetings in the Commonwealth.

Acceptance or otherwise of this Australian invitation will largely depend upon whether New Zealand wishes to see more of the British party after the end of the Games, and nothing can be done about this by the British authorities until the New Zealand organising committee replies to their enquiries.

WELLINGTON, Last Night (P.A.) —The secretary of the New Zealand Olympic and Empire Games Association, Mr. H. Amos, said tonight that the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association and the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association hoped that at the end of the Games if would be possible to arrange for some of the star athletes to appear in other centres. The difficulty was that, while these associations would be prepared to take star athletes, they probably would not be prepared to take Ihe whole of the athletic and swimming teams. The possibility of arranging meetings in other parts of New Zealand would be considered early next month.