Altitude Attitude Biggest Problem

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

Altitude Attitude Biggest Problem

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

MEXICO CITY.

Attitude not altitude is the big problem which world athletes competing in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City will have to overcome, according to the Games Director of Publicity, Armando Moraila.

“The problem is all in the mind,” he told visiting Australian and New Zealand journalists. “Ninety hours should be sufficient for athletes to become acclimatised.” Mr Moraila went on: “Ask Arthur Lydiard. He runs 25 miles daily here after work.” Mr Lydiard is in Mexico at the invitation of the Mexicans and is coaching several promising runners. Mr Moraila said health experts had made a close study of the altitude of Mexico City and the possible effects on Games athletes. “Their conclusions were that Mexico City’s altitude of 7478 feet would not harm anyone,” he said. “They said problems could begin after a height of 10,000 feet. "More than 6 million Mexicans live happily in the city without any effects—that should be enough proof.” “Little Olympics”

Olympic athletes will be allowed to spend a month in the village before the Games open in October, 1968. In spite of the altitude assurances, several nations are

sending teams to Mexico City next October to compete in an international sports week, known locally as “the little Olympics.” Mr Moraila gave the following breakdown of the expected competitors: Russia 100, Italy 60, Japan 79, Belgium eight, Czechoslovakia 16, France 72, West Germany 25, East Germany 32, and Switzerland 10. He said that October had been selected as the month for the Games after weather records for more than 40 years had been studied.