TRAVELLING WITH TEAMS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 71, 24 March 1934, Page 20

TRAVELLING WITH TEAMS

It was mentioned recently that a woman athlete may make application to be included in the New Zealand Empire Games team on the basis of her paying her own expenses. This question of whether permission should be given to athletes who meet their own expenses to be attached to a team has been raised in Australia. According to a report delegates to the Australian British Empire Games Association are divided on the subject. Those opposed to the principle hold that it negatives the work of the selectors if athletes who did not gain their favour in the first place are sent. It also places the selectors, in an invidious position should the "visitor" succeed in beating a selected representative, comments the Sydney "Daily Tele r graph." This is not an impossibility, and has a precedent in the case ofßascombe and George Golding at the Canadian Games. ' . "'.■'*•

Then, again, it is stressed that the method of subsidising members may result in an inferior athlete superseding one holding better qualifications, only because he or she is connected with supporters who are in a position to influence financial support. " .' . Those who favour the idea claim that it is not sporting if !an athlete misses the chance of a trip because the Australian British Empire Games Association ishandicapped by a lack of funds. In their opinion, each individual case should be treated on its , merits. If the athletes are up to standard—this decision to rest with the selection committee—then it is competent for them to be attached to the team. They consider this applies especially to the Empire Games trip, and it is argued that the expense of an athlete on this tour is but fractional of what is needed ;in the case of an Olympic representative. The Empire Games are but steppingstones to Olympic honours, and if an athlete falls by the wayside in London why waste money sending him or her to Berlin two -years later? :