N.Z. OLYMPIC COUNCIL

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 58, 31 May 1927, Page 7

N.Z. OLYMPIC COUNCIL

HELPING AMATEUR SPORT FORMATION OF BRANCHES (Special to THE SUN.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The New Zealand Olympic Association, which last year threatened to go out of existence unless more support was given it by the constituent bodies, is now firmly established, and in a few months will have a network of district associations all over the Dominion. Twenty-five district associations will be formed, and for these the boundaries adopted will be those of the New Zealand Rugby Union. The Wellington Branch is now well entrenched, and the Canterbury Branch will be formed within a few days. By August it is hoped to have branches functioning in Auckland, Dunedin, Hawke’s Bay, Poverty Bay, Taranaki, Wanganui, Wairarapa, Nelson and Manawatu, and with these major bodies established it is intended to proceed with the formation of smaller branches. The work of these branches will be much more than the mere obtaining of funds for the sending of Dominion athletes to the Olympiad. It will be to encourage amateur sport and to expend sums voted by Council for that purpose ii? such districts as North Auckland, where there is no amateur athletic club, no swimming club, and only one rowing club. The district association will be able to do valuable work and bring about the Council’s object, which is to provide amateur sport of every kind for all, so that no man will be forced to turn professional in order to take part in the sport which he favours.