NEW ZEALANDERS FOR OLYMPIA.

Evening Star, Issue 19789, 13 February 1928, Page 8

NEW ZEALANDERS FOR OLYMPIA.

TO THU KDITOK. Sir, —The time has arrived when, il New Zealand is to he represented at the Olympic Games, to lie held at Amsterdam in July and August of this year, the necessary funds, estimated at £lO,000, must be collected. TJio proposal is to send a team of about twenty, consisting of swimmers, boxers, track athletes, and rowers; and, if the above amount is forthcoming, this will he able to be done. Nominations of athletes, well up to the required standard, have been received from the governing bodies of the variour sports bodies. . In the past, the funds required to secure our participation in the Olympic Games at London (I90S), at Stockholm (1912), at Antwerp (192(1), and at Paris (1924) were supplied almost entirely by the public, but this year the national governing bodies concerned have already donated £I,OOO towards the Olympic fund. I n doing so these bodies have strained their available resources to the utmost, and we trust that the public, which has been so generous in the past, will recognise that fact. Tli© Olympic Games arc the world’s greatest sporting festival, and it is estimated that this vein- sixty different natoinswill he represented at Amsterdam. In the four branches of spurt mentioned above, the contests at the Games are the official amateur championsliips_ of the world, and, though it would be idle for us to maintain that in any one event Now Zealand can bo certain of victory, we do submit that the quality of those nominated is such that the dominion can, as at every one of the past four Olympiads, ho reasonably certain of having representatives iu a number of finals. That is the slamlard set by sporting bodies throughout the world, and it is unreasonable to set a higher one.

Tho outstanding merit of New Zealand’s representatives in the past has been commented upon the world over, and we have only recently been assured by our new representative on the International Olympic Council, Hr Arthur Porritt, who secured third place in the 100-mctro event at tho Paris Games in 1924, and who is known all over the Continent and in the United States, that foreign interest in our prospective representation at the lorthconnig Games is astonishing. Jn addition, (ho British Olympic Council, some months ago, sent out a special appeal (which was published at the tunic) urging that we should be strongly represented, and _ by _ the last mail we received an invitation from that body for our team to share the quarters of flic British team at Amsterdam—a unique compliment of the regard ill which Now Zealand is held by the sportsmen of the Mother Land. We respectfully ask you, sir, to help us in our appeal to the people of New Zealand—■

]. By opening in your paper a subscription list; and 2. By publishing regular weekly news supplied by us concerning the Olympic Games and our representatives. We arc aware that the calls on the public generosity are ever-increasing, but this appeal, coming but once in four years, is, we submit, one to which every person with a proper pride in New Zealand’s standing in the outside world can justifiably subscribe. It is our strongest wish that the moneys donated should, be furnished by as many people as possible. No donation is ton small to evidence a keen desire for New Zealand’s adequate representation. As booking arrangements with the steamer have to be confirmed by March 20, it will be necessary to close the appeal on that date. Advice from time to time of the amounts promised or received by you would be helpful to and greatlv appreciated by the council. We confidently anticipate your favorable consideration of our request.—We are, etc., H. Amos, Chairman, Olympic Council, Box 1,261, Wellington. 0. G. Camp, Hon. Sec., Olympic Council, Box 796, Wellington. 11. St. J. Bcore, Chairman, Wellington Branch, N.Z.0.G.A., Fentherston street. H. Henderson, Chairman, Otago Branch, N.Z.O.G.A. R. R. Rowe, Chairman, Canterbury Branch, N.Z.O.G.A. G. Henning, Chairman, Auckland Branch N.Z.O.G.A, [We shall bo glad to acknowledge subscriptions for this fund.—Ed. E.S.]