JAPANESE ATHLETES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 51, 16 March 1937, Page 15

JAPANESE ATHLETES

Civic Welcome Accorded in Napier N.Z. FORM PRAISED The two visiting Japaneae athletes, Messrs. Togami and Murakaso were, with their interpreter and m'anager, Mr. E. Kurusawa, accorded a civic welcome to Napier at the Sound Shell last evening by the Mayor, Mr, C-. O. Morse. They are to appear in competition at McLean Park, Napier, to-night, when they will attempt respeetively, to break Ihe New Zealand broad jump and twomiles records. ■ . Xn welcoining them to Napier, Mr, Morse expressed a hope that the visit tn New Zealand would help cement tho bonds of good fellowsliip that should exist botweon athletes of all nations and between the people generally of every nation of the world, He expressed a liope that their stay ia Napier would be enjoyable, and that they would carry aw;ay with them happy inciuories of New Zealand. On behalf of the Napier AmateuT Athletic and Oycling Club, Mr. John Mason euaorsed the sentiments of Mr. Morse. He spoke of the perfonnances of the visitors at the last Olympic Games and at the recent New Zealand ehainpionships, and hoped that Napier athletes wbuld be able to learn from them ncvVer and more advanced methods of training. Mr. Murakaso then replied in Japanese, followed by the interpreter, Mr. Kurusawa, who thanked Mr. Morse for his fine welcome. He said that the .visitors had found that the standard of athletie performance in New Zealand was very high, and that in years to oome there was every possibility that tho Dominion would be a force to be reekoned with in the Olympic Games. On behalf of the Japanese Athletie Asscciation he presented the comptiments of athletes in Japan and extended an invitation to all present to attend the 1940 Olympic Games at Tokio. The gathering concluded with the singing of "For They are Jolly Good Fellows."