Swimming qualifiers ‘should go to Games’

Press, 27 January 1986, Page 22

Swimming qualifiers ‘should go to Games’

The New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association will do everything it can to ensure that all swimmers and divers who achieve qualifying standards for the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games represent New Zealand there, said the president of the N.Z.A.S.A., Mr Terry Wall, on Saturday.

Mr Wall was commenting on a statement by Sir Lance Cross, the president of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, who said the Edinburgh Games team might have to be restricted because of lack of finance.

Fund raising for the Games team had fallen below budgeted levels and was of great concern to the association, particularly considering the number of athletes who were meeting qualifying standards, said Sir Lance. Mr Wall said he hoped competitors would not have to be left in New Zealand.

“A number of swimmers have put in a tremendous amount of work in the last 18 months, and if they are to be denied a place in the Games team because of a shortage of finance, I would hope that wiser counsel would prevail. “If it turns out that we have someone — a swimmer or diver — who is left out, but has qualified, I feel sure the clubs and centres around the country would do everything in their power to ensure that the finance is raised.”

Mr Wall said the qualifying times for swimming and the points standards for diving were difficult. Anybody achieving them wbuld deserve their place in the team. “The association has a policy that it will only send competitors to the Games who will represent New Zealand with distinction. That’s why the qualifying standards are difficult from the start,” said Mr Wall.