Late sport French tour of S.A. in balance

Press, 26 April 1979, Page 6

Late sport French tour of S.A. in balance

NZPA-Reuter Paris The South African Rugby Union tour of France later this year, which could have repercussions affecting the 1980 Moscow' Olympics, hangs in the balance after a statement by the French National Olympic and Sporting Committee (C.N.0.5.F.) that it would not mix politics with sport. The statement in favour of the tour followed an announcement by the French Government earlier this month that the Springboks’ visit, due to start in October, would be inopportune. The C.N.O.S.F. said in its statement that it “solemnly affirmed that sports contacts between nations did not in any way imply approval of the political regime or of their ideology.” The president of the French Rugby Federation (F.F.R.), Mr Albert Ferrasse. has made it clear that as far as his organisation was concerned, that teams from

South Africa could play in France.

But the French Govern'ment may still bow to inter, ) national pressure and refuse visas to the Springboks. ' The president of ths ) C.N.0.5.F., Mr Caluse ColI lard, told reporters that ths 'paragraph of a letter sen! to him earlier this month by the International Olympia Committee which appeared to threaten France with ex, pulsion from the Moscow Olympics, had been sent in error.

“The last paragraph, which was very tough, no longer exists,” he said.

The C.N.O.S.F. stateme.it “rejected all threats, from wherever they came, against French athletes who together with all the world’s athletes have the right to take part in the Olympic Games.”

The French Rugby Federation treasurer, Mr Andre Cazaux, welcomed the C.N.O.S.F. s statement. “Now we know where we stand. If the tour is cancelled it will only be done by the Government?’ he said.