OLYMPIC GAMES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5312, 13 August 1928, Page 4

OLYMPIC GAMES.

NEW ZEALAND’S FAILURE.

MONEY THROWN AWAY.

“New Zealand’s failure is only what one might expect,” said a well-known sportsman in commenting on the Olympic sports at Amsterdam. “When the team was picked, a,nd .the foil# oared rowing crew excluded, it seemed to most c,f those who followed the game, that it was next to useless to attempt to make any dort of showing. It is useless to contemplate sending anyone to the Olympic spouts unless his performances show that lie is a world-beater, and in that respect we had only one man who 'had qualified in tliat class—Lay, the javelin-thrQw-er, and for some reason with which we are not acquainted, he failed to throw up to his best form. Ln these circumstances the trip simply meant a joy-rUe to those concerned, and the result may seriously hamper the committee when the time comes, tc send a team to Los Angeles in 1931. What is the use of sending a team of second-raters (on performances) when it is known that, they will havfo to meet flrst-raters ? Furthermore, knowing exactly the times of the firstraters, the committee should, in justice to the public of New Zealand, organisle, a series cf eliminating contests, and if a performer does not run. or swim, or jump up to or near such times, he should be eliminated. There should be no other consideraton given than performances, when the struggle is between the .world’s best That is why some people advocated a four-oared crew rather than a mixed .te-am 'of trie’rs who had very

little chance of pulling off the events entered for. One might say tha.t it is. all very well to be wise after the event, but a good many of us were wise to the position before the team left New Zealand.”