THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (I.O.C.) EXECUTIVE IS MEETING IN LAUSANNE. SWITZERLAND, TODAY TO DISCUSS THE?
BRUNDAGE: "THE RESULT OF THIS PRESENT CONTROVERSY IS THAT THE MEXICAN ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE GAMES OF THE 19TH OLYMPIAD AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE ENDEAVOURING TO OPERATE UNDER OLYMPIC REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN ENSNARED AND FIND THEMSELVES IN THE SITUATION FROM WHICH IT IS NOT EASY TO ESCAPE. IN THIS IMPERFECT WORLD THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE HOPES TO CONCENTRATE THE ENERGIES OF ALL ITS FOLLOWERS TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT AND THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD. IT AIMS TO MAINTAIN THE HONESTY AND INTEGRITY OF THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT, UPHOLD ITS REPUTATION OF FAIR AND GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP AND KEEP IT FREE FROM HYPOCRISY, CHICANERY AND GREED."
QUESTION: "MR. BRUNDAGE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT FORWARD YOUR VIEW ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA - THE FACT THAT ACCORDING TO THE GRENOBLE DECISION WE (SOUTH AFRICA) ARE STULL ENTITLED TO PARTICIPATE (AT MEXICO)?"
BRUNDAGE: "MY POSITION AS PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE IS FIRST TO BE NEUTRAL AND GIVE ALL PARTIES TO A DISPUTE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR CASE. AFTER A DECISION IS MADE I THINK IT IS MY DUTY AS PRESIDENT TO ENFORCE THE DECISION TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY BUT THE DECISION HAS BEEN CHALLENGED AS YOU KNOW AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING. I NOTICED A HEADLINE IN ONE OF THE PAPERS THAT I HAD COME DOWN HERE TO ASK SOUTH AFRICA TO WITHDRAW. I HAVEN'T ASKED THE SOUTH AFRICAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TO DO ANYTHING. AND I HAVEN'T TOLD THE, TO DO ANYTHING EITHER IF I HAD THAT POWER, WHICH I DON'T.
QUESTION: YOU HAVE BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING, SIR, THAT YOU WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO SEE SOUTH AFRICA AT THE MEXICO OLYMPICS? COULD YOU SAY WHY?
BRUNDAGE: "THE OBJECTIVE OF THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT IS TO INVITE THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD AND THAT INCLUDES SOUTH AFRICA."
Background: THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (I.O.C.) EXECUTIVE IS MEETING IN LAUSANNE. SWITZERLAND, TODAY TO DISCUSS THE CRISIS WHICH IS THREATENING TO SPLIT THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT. THE NINE MAN COMMITTEE UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF MR. AVERY BRUNDAGE OF THE UNITED STATES WILL DECIDE ON THE FUTURE OF SOUTH AFRICA AT THE MEXICO OLYMPICS. MR. BRUNDAGE LEFT JOHANNESBURG YESTERDAY AFTER TALKING TO MEMBERS OF SOUTH AFRICA'S OLYMPIC COMMITTEE.
BEFORE BOARDING THIS AIRCRAFT MR. BRUNDAGE TALKED TO NEWSMEN ABOUT THE SOUTH AFRICA QUESTION. IF THE IOC COMMITTEE REAFFIRMS A DECISION TAKEN EARLIER AT GRENOBLE IN FRANCE AND STATES THAT SOUTH AFRICA IS ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE IF FACES THE THREAT OF ABOUT 50 NATIONS WALKING OUT OF THE MEXICO GAMES.