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International Games News
March 1998
Contents
Asian Games preparations looking up.
South American Games postponed again.
Wild Monkey Intrudes at Paralympic Hotel
Fredericks asks for Commonwealth Medal
Asian Games preparations looking up.
The Asian Games preparations were given a favorable report by delegates of the Olympic Council of Asia this month. This is very good news for the Bangkok games which had been far behind in their preparations last year and were in danger of losing the games. The inspectors felt certain that enough progress had been made and that venues would be ready in time for the games. (AFP 3/6/98)
South American Games postponed again.
The sixth South American games to be held in Cuenca Ecuador this year have now been rescheduled twice. Originally scheduled to open February 27, the games were pushed back to May. More organizational delays, and effects from El Niņo have now forced the games dates back to October 21-31. (IOC press 3/6/98)
Richard de Groen, New Zealand's Commonwealth Games team manager gave mixed reviews on the preparations for this years Commonwealth Games to be held in Kuala Lumpur in September. The men's hockey stadium was described as "amazing", and the swimming and cycling venues both excellent. Other venues may just barely be completed in time for the games.
The fires burning in the East Borneo islands of Indonesia are still a concern. This past year they were a factor in the South East Asian games in Jakarta.
A dress rehearsal of the games is scheduled for the week of July 11. (AFP 3/11/98)
Wild Monkey Intrudes at Paralympic Hotel
New Zealand's Matthew Butson, a skier, was surprised by a four foot tall screeching wild monkey that leaped through a window into his fourth floor hotel room at the Nagano Paralympics. Butson, was able to fiend off the intruder by waving his artificial arm at the unwanted guest. (AFP 3/5/98)
Fredericks asks for Commonwealth Medal
Namibian sprinter Frankie Fredericks has still not received his bronze medal from the 1994 Commonwealth Games 100 meters. Fredericks, who finished fourth in the race, was moved up to third place when second place finisher Horace Dove-Edwin from Sierra Leone was disqualified for the use of steroids.
Fredericks had mentioned boycotting the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur if he is not given the medal. The Commonwealth Games Federation has promised Fredericks his medal, "even if we have to get a new one from the engravers". (which makes us wonder if Dove-Edwin is still in possession of the original?)
The medals are historically significant as Namibia's first ever in Commonwealth or Olympic competition.
(Reuters, 3/14/98; 3/16/98)