Record Entry Hopes Dashed

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31115, 19 July 1966, Page 19

Record Entry Hopes Dashed

(From BRUCE HEWITT) KINGSTON (Jamaica), Jamaica’s hopes of having a record number of countries competing at the Kingston Empire Games next month were dashed yesterday—l2 of 40 countries which said they would attend had not made official entries up to the closing time at midnight, Jamaican time, on Saturday night. New Zealand was prominent among the acceptors with a team of 81 competitors and officials—the fifth largest of the Games and the second biggest team New Zealand has sent to the Commonwealth Games. The record New Zealand

team of 100 competitors and officials went to the Perth Games in 1962. Jamaican officials were still chasing national entries by cable and telephone yesterday but the final figure looked like being nearer 30 than 40 countries. The record entry of 35 teams is shared by the Cardiff Games of 1958, and Perth in 1962. Rhodesia withdrew from the Kingston Games some time ago and Zambia, Malawi and Dominica have been more recent scratchings. Hong Kong is in doubt through lack of finance but may finally send a shooting team.

The Empire Games have grown from an original 11 teams and 450 athletes and officials at Hamilton, Ontario, in 1930, to a probable 35 teams and 1400 competitors in Kingston next month.