OLYMPIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1211, 21 August 1911, Page 7

OLYMPIC SPORTS.

"CUTTING TIIE I'AINTEIi." A movement is afoot in New Zealand to "cut the painter" from Australia with regard to the Olympic Games. Tho following circular, signed by .11. Divers, has been addressed I'o the- officers and members of the executives of tho local governing bodies of nnint-eur sport, football, Bugby, Association, cricket, tennis, boxing, rowing, yachting, athletics, and Hockey:— "I have the honour to invjl'e you to attend a united conference of all amateur sport bodies for the purpose of discussing the advisability of New Zealand obtaining recognition as a separate and independent country at' the hands of the authorities controlling the Olympic Games. As you are no doubt aware, these games are held every four years in different parts of the world, and are controlled by an International Committee composed of representatives of every European nation, the United States of America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, etc. The competitions include the aforesaid games; in fact; all recognised branches of amateur sports. Up to the present, however. New Zealand has been bracketed with Australia under the denomination of 'Australasia' t'o the manifest- detriment of this Dominion, inasmuch as our athletes competing at theso games are not classed as New Zealanders, but as Australians, and any credit' or honour accuring to New Zealand is thereby lost to it. It has consequently been thought that as New Zealand athletes have in the past proved themselves more than a match for Australians in many branches of outdoor sport, the time has arrived when at all future Olympiads wb should seek to have New Zealand placed en an equal footing with other nations of the world, instead of being merged into Australia, as at present." Tho preliminary meeting to discuss tho matter will Ixs held at Dunedin to-mor-row.