Athletes honoured 30 years on

The 99 athletes who were selected to represent New Zealand at the 1980 Olympic Games will be honoured in Wellington tonight.

While only four athletes went on to compete at the Moscow games, the full team will be acknowledged for their achievements and the contributions they have made to New Zealand sport.

The reunion, organised by the Olympians Club of New Zealand, will be attended by more than 50 of the athletes originally selected.

Chef de Mission Tay Wilson, modern pentathlete Brian Newth and official Graeme Campbell will represent those who went to Moscow.

"The effects of the 1980 boycott have been long-lasting for many athletes and we think that thirty years on it is time they were recognised," said New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) secretary general Barry Maister, who was selected for the original Moscow team.

The Moscow games was the largest boycott in Olympic history. More than 60 nations refused to compete in an American-led protest against the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. As a result, only 81 countries participated.

The New Zealand Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (NZOCGA, today known as the NZOC) initially voted to accept the Soviet Union's invitation to attend the Games.

Several sporting federations withdrew, some in protest at Russian intervention in Afghanistan and others because of a lack of competition.

Government pressure mounted, with athletes called upon to put their own ambitions aside in favour of the national interest.

In June 1980, the NZOCGA agreed that the decision to accept the invitation to attend the games would be rescinded and that the association would withdraw from the Olympics.

Intimidation of athletes was reported. Swimmer Rebecca Perrott withdrew "in the best interests of New Zealand", while her father noted his daughter had been under pressure.

A team of just four athletes and four officials remained. Led by Wilson, the team included Ian Ferguson, Alan Thompson, Geoff Walker and Newth.

Public pressure was strong at the time and Newth reported receiving abusive letters and phone calls including a letter written in blood.

- NZPA