OLYMPIC SWIMMERS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1928, Page 6

OLYMPIC SWIMMERS

COMPLAINTS BEFORE N.Z _ SWIMMING COUNCIL.

By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright

‘ ' CHRISTCHURCH. November 29. Definite complaints against_the treatment oif the Olympic swimmers on* tour to Europe were before the New Zealand Swimming Council at the annual meeting to-night. j The; Secretary,- Mir B'C O’Neill, 1 produced correspondency:, which showed that prior to departure from the Dominion of the Olympic team, the Swimming Council had arranged for Mr .1. Hodgson, its representative in England,. to accompany the team to Amsterdam, to look after the swimmers. Mr O’Neill said that MFAinoh agreed with this plan. The Council had before it a report from Mr Hodgson. It stated that Mr Amos had ignored him, and the swimmers were' given no reasonable chance for proper training. Mr Hodgson stated in a letter that he was excluded’ from the official party to Amsterdam.,. and that there the ladies were left to'train in “ a filthy dock.” At the Games he learned that the dock had earned the name off “typhoid pool’? owing’ to the odour and nasty taste of the water. American and. German swimmers were forbidden to train there.

. Mr O’Neill said that the Swimming Association and Mr Hodgson had been submitted' to a- series of indignities, which would not be accepted without, the liveliest- resentment. Had the Swimming Association known that the swimmers would have suffered under the handicaps 'which Mr Amos’s management permitted, it would not have allowed the team to depart. The Council decided to demand a full and immediate staement from Mr Amos and the Olympic Council, and further action was deferred meantime.