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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 25, No. 10. 1962.

Rome Olympics

Rome Olympics

In 1960 (September 5th to be exact) an almost unknown New Zealander defeated some of the I world's top middle distance runners and earned recognition not only for himself but also for N.Z. athletics.

Peter Snell was not very highly rated, even in N.Z., except by a few optimists and a highly confident coach. Since this very fine win Snell has achieved added distinction in the establishment of a string of world records in the early months of this year.

Just what did Snell's gold medal and his world records do for N.Z. athletics in general?

In the first place it gained for his coach, Arthur Lydiard a worldwide reputation as the foremost middle-distance coach of the present day. His coaching and training methods have been implemented, adapted and modified over much of the United States, in England, Australia and other isolated parts of the world. The influence of Lydiard in the emergence of N.Z. and Commonwealth athletics has been recognised in the awarding to him of an O.B.E. and several leading overseas sports journals have awarded him their "Coach of the Year" honour.

Secondly, with this growing recognition came offers of tours for N.Z's top athletes—Snell, Murray Halberg and Barry Magee. These tours have added more to N.Z's reputation and have led to reciprocal tours from American and British athletes, and these tours have helped to awaken the public's Interest in N.Z. athletics. Although the recent crop of athletes were not over-impressive they did help to encourage the rising N.Z. athletes—showing them that there were more athletes in N.Z. equally capable of holding their own in international athletics.

This was recognised by the. N.Z.A.A.A. who arranged a trip to] the U.S.A. recently for John Davies, who appears to be capable of a sub four-minute mile. The prospects of Davies and Snell clashing in middle-distance events in N.Z. next season should again attract the large crowds which flocked to see the sponsored tours during the past two seasons.

While on the subject of overseas tours I would like to congratulate the N.Z.A.A.A. on their attitude to the proposals made by the Norwegian association. The N.Z. council recognised that athletics was an individual sport and that the proposed tour was too demanding on the athletes concerned. At no stage did the N.Z.A.A.A. exert any pressure on the athletes although this would have meant that two other N.Z. athletes would have had an overseas trip.

These internal tours have added much valuable revenue to the coffers of the N.Z.A.A.A. and to the individual centres. The Wellington Centre has purchased new equipment and invested a considerable sum of money towards the construction of a new all-weather track from the proceeds of these sponsored meetings. The West Coast (N.I.) centre, who organised the meeting at which Snell set his world one-mile record in January, have also set aside a sum for the purpose of building an all-weather track.

The Otago Centre raised the money required for their track by a public appeal, and surely some of this interest must have stemmed from the exploits of Snell and his colleagues. Auckland, as was to be expected, was the first centre off the mark in the development of an all-weather track, but in their haste they failed to consult some of the leading coaches who could have helped them, and in consequence the track proved to be too hard and required considerable modification before it was suitable for general use. This mistake led to a more watchful approach to the development of these tracks and thus other clubs in Auckland are at present progressing towards the construction of these tracks. Thus Auckland, which is already dominant in N.Z. athletics is taking a further step ahead with the development of several of these tracks.

Another result of Snell's achievements is the re-awakening of an interest among officials and sponsors alike. They both realise the enormous possibilities in the promoting of athletics in N.Z., and the West Coast (N.I.) Centre is a very good example (outside the Auckland centre) of what could be done in the promoting of athletics.

They have brought the pole-vault (one of the "Cinderella" events in N.Z. athletics) from the back fields and empty sides of the athletics field and staged them in front of the crowd, who have been quick to appreciate the great skill and strength required in this event, The pole-vaulters too have responded to this recognition and the West Coast centre has the best group of vaulters as well as two very promising juniors in this event in N.Z.