OLYMPIC GAMES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1432, 6 May 1912, Page 4

OLYMPIC GAMES.

? CHAMPION'S POSITION. 0 e (By TeicErnph.-Press Association,) 1 Ciiristchurch, May 5. .- An adjourned meeting of the Council off j the Swimming Association was held to. a day to moot Mr, A. Marriott, chairman of i tho 01yni])ic Council, in connection with' i the deadlock existing in regard to the s nomination of M. 10. Champion as tho Ncvr . Zealand swimming competitor at tho . Olympic Games at Stockholm. Mr. Gcorgar s Harris presided. [ Mr. Marriott said that the Olytnpio: , Council had not received Champion's no.' , minntion till April 15, and by that timo i all efforts to secure funds had been closed ; under tho belief that only Hill and Wild. , ing would he going to the Games. For. this purpose a sum of .CSiu was required,) although it was possible that Wildinjl would pay his own expenses from London tn .Stockholm. Ilk expenses, if they had to he paid by the Council, would he XT>. This left a sum of ,£163 for Hill. The Olympic Council had known nothing of Champion's intention to go lo ton. don until he arrived in Wellington, and at that time all avenues of subscription* had been exhausted. Ha was now in tho . same position as Hill for whom .£IOO had been subscribed, deducting Ihe amount paid for Champion's boat faro (<CGO), a sum of ,CK)O was still required, and the Olympic Council must have a guarantee for that amount. Ho did not think that tho amount of .£SO at one timo promised by Auckland would be forthcoming. Already tho Council had had a difficulty in getting an amount of £7b subscribed in Auckland for Hill, and then only bv pass, ing a motion to the effect Hint Hill" would not be nominated if (he money wore not forthcoming. The Council therefore did not rely on vague promises by Auckland, especially as Champion himself did not rely on thorn. The Olympic Council would accept Mr. Harris's guarantee of .£SO, contingent (in Auckland first subscribing i'.'iO, but it did not. desire lo deal with auy« liody other than the Swimming Associit.' . Hon'. The Council was not hostile loCh.im* piou's nomination, but if he were nomin* aim' tho Oiymnie Council would bo responsible for all his expenses. .Mr. K. Basset asked why Champion's expenses from London should be <£iOO. as compared with Wilding's Jils. Mr. Marriott replied that Champion would requiro expenses which would not. bo incurred-br Wilding. Tho Council did not. expect men ■ to go to London without anything in (heir pockets, and Champion would havo to lv» maintained in Hngland for several weeks. A sum of ,£lf!f) would carry him through all tho England championships. In reply to other questions Mr. Marriott said that the Council would not r<v quire the cash before nominating Chn.mnion. The association's guarantee would be sufficient. The mpel.ing.thcn adjourned after thank, nig Mr. Marnot tfor his attendance.