Games team may be cut

Press, 25 January 1986, Page 80

Games team may be cut

PA Wellington The size of the New Zealand team for the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games may have to be restricted because of a shortage of finance. Sir Lance Cross, the president of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, said yesterday the situation had become serious because an appeal for financial support from the business community had drawn a disappointing response. “We are facing the possibility of having to limit team numbers because of limited funds,” Sir Lance said.

“This situation is of great concern to the association, particularly in view of the number of athletes meeting qualifying standards for the Edinburgh games.” There has been a substantial drop in the financial support from the Government, compared with previous Commonwealth Games and the N.Z.O.C.G.A. has to raise 85 per cent of the Edinburgh team expenses from the business community and public. It has a team appeal target of $1.5 million to fund the preparation, outfitting, equipment, travel and accommodation for a 200-strong team. The N.Z.O.C.G.A. had

canvassed 12,500 companies and local authorities for financial support, Sir Lance said. “So far, the overall response to our business house scheme has been very disappointing, and I appeal to all those approached to help us prepare the team to the level and extent achieved for the Los Angeles Olympics,” he said. The N.Z.O.C.G.A. has begun a five-year sponsorship scheme with the organisers of the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games but Sir Lance said the bulk of the Edinburgh expenses would have to be raised by the end of July. The director of the

Edinburgh Commonwealth Games Appeal, Jock Lee, said about $350,000 was being sought from the business community.

That figure had been increased by necessity when Government funding was reduced to $230,000, about 15 per cent of the team expenses.

Governments had generally contributed about 40 per cent of the expenses to Olympic and Commonwealth Games in the past, he said. Approaches to the Government had failed to secure similar assistance for Edinburgh, however.