Soviet threat over Games a surprise

Press, 12 April 1979, Page 4

Soviet threat over Games a surprise

NZPA Madrid The Soviet Vice-Premier, Mr Ignati Novikov, said at Madrid yesterday that countries having sports contacts with South Africa or Rhodesia would be excluded from the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Mr Novikov is also vicechairman of the Olympics Organising Committee. Referring to a South African rugby tour of France planned for next autumn, Mr Novikov told a press conference, “We prefer to sacrifice one coutry for the sake of 10.” (The 1976 Montreal Games were boycotted by most African countries because of rugby contacts between New Zealand and South Africa). Mr Novikov added; “We know that the French public is against the tour. We are convinced that decisions taken by the International Olympic Committee and ourselves (the Organising Committee) will help certain members of the French Rugby Federation to see sense.” At the close of the press conference, an 1.0. C. executive committee member, Mr Juan Antonio Samaranch, said the 1.0. C. had no power to exclude member countries and that Mr Novikov was putting the viewpoint of the Organising Committee.

! Mr Samaranch, who is also Spanish Ambassador to Mos- , cow, said that he did not believe there would be an African boycott even if the South African tour of France went ahead. When asked yesterday to comment on the Soviet stance, the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) said he knew nothing of it. “We had discussions with the Russians very recently ! and I know New Zealand; . will be taking part at a pre- . Olympic yachting regatta in . Russia this year,” Ke said. The Labour Party spokesman on sport and recreation (Mr E. E. Isbey) last evening urged Mr Muldoon to condemn “those who play racist sport.” “Once again the National Government will be hoisted on its own petard if the Prime Minister refuses to come out publicly and strongly in support of his . Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Taiboys) and strongly condemn those who play racist sport and urge everybody to, ! abide by the Gleneagles! Agreement.” i Mr Isbey said that no] . amount of “double talk” by] ■ rugby players and administrators who had just returned ■ from South Africa could hide i the brutal fact that racism i and apartheid were practised i at every level of South African life.

i The chairman of the Auck- ■ land Rugby Union, (Mr R. M. ■ Don) said as he reached the i Auckland Airport last even- ! ing from Johannesburg: : “Where are the demonstrators?” ' Not a sign was to be seen :lof anti-apartheid protesters ’ to mark the return of Mr ' Don, his fellow New Zealand Rugby Union councillor, Mr i T. W. Johnson, and other J New Zealanders who had i I been associated with the tour ■ in South Africa of the World 1 Invitation team. The manager of the team, • Mr B. J. Lochore, who cap--1 tained the All Blacks in South ■ Africa in 1970 and returned 1 three years ago as a support- ' er of A. R. Leslie’s team tour, said: “It is impossible not to be amazed by the progress • of multiracialism in South : African rugby. ’ “I am quite sure that a - Springbok team brought to 5 New Zealand in 1981, a pro- - ject which I favour, would ■ be multiracial in character 1 after being selected on ’] merit.” =[ After initial astonishment lat the news that the French >1 Rugby Federation has banned <ithe tour of the Transvaal - team because is contains no 1 non-white players,, Mr Don 5 said: “The reason is'perfectly j simple. There are no non-! - whites playing rugby in the: Transvaal.” A 1