“Mexican Olympics A Betrayal Of Athletes”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31109, 12 July 1966, Page 19

“Mexican Olympics A Betrayal Of Athletes”

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright)

LONDON.

The Mexico City Olympics in 1968 would be a betrayal of the athletes taking part, the Australian world record holder, R. Clarke, said in London after winning the three miles event of the British AAA. championships.

Clarke said that topclass runners were only at their peak for three or four years in their lifetimes. “The Olympic Games in that time must be the greatest event in their sporting life,” he said. To hold the Games at Mexico City where the extremely high altitude would rule out world times in long distance events was a betrayal, he said. “Even if the runner is right and completely fit for the event some of the other runners will not be. Therefore, the winner must feel that he has not beaten the best in the world at their peak,” he said. Clarke said that although he had set two world records in the last week, the Empire Games in Jamaica next month was still the big event of his present overseas tour. Attitude To Running "I enjoy the competition. The Games, whether Olympic Games or Empire Games, are to me the most important thing.” Clarke compared his atti-

tude to running with the former Australian world mile record holder, H. Elliott, and the French mile record holder, M. Jazy. “I think Elliott was the greatest runner in the world,” Clarke said. "He had more aggression. But he did enjoy competition running. He was not a club runner. “I came down here early to watch the mile and the other events before my three mile. Herb would never have done that I expect to go on running in club events for a very long time.” Of Jazy, he said: "Michel will only run when he is sure

that he is right for the race. I want to run all the time. Maybe he is right, but I enjoy running.” Clarke, who said young athletes should run whenever they had the chance, will compete in London in a two mile event on July 23 and will run in Oslo before going to Kingston for the Empire Games. “I want to run against Kip Keino when we are both fit and right for it,” Clarke said. Clarke said he would run in the three mile and the six mile for Australia at Jamaica and would be in either the mile or the marathon for fun.