t-Il-Y
FOR PRESS FRIDAY, 15 FEBRUARY, 1980
JOINT PRESS STATEMENT
The Prime Minister, the Minister for Home Affairs, and the
members of the National Executive of the Australian Olympic
Federation, met today to discuss the question of Australia's
participation in the Olympic Gamnes, and to create an
opportunity for an exchange of views in relation to the
Prime Minister's statement that the Government will remain
strongly opposed to the participation of an Australian team
in the Olympic Games in Moscow.
The Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs explained
that the Government had given further consideration to the
Government's attitude to the holding of the Olympic Games
in Moscow in the light of the views expressed and discussions
held by the Prime Minister in the course of his recent visit
to the United States and Europe. The Government's position
that it would be inappropriate for the Games to be held in
Msocow was conveyed both in the discussions this morning
and in a letter to the Federation, a copy of which is attached
to this release.
The Prime Miinister and Minister for Home Affairs expressed
the view that, as a matter . of principle, an Australian team
should not participate, for reasons that were discussed very
fully at the meeting.
The Australian Olympic Federation explained that they were
concerned as to whether a withdrawal by Australia or a
number of nations would constitute an effective boycott,
and the President of the Olympic Federation did not feel
that Australia should withdraw unless it was established
beyond reasonable doubt that an effective boycott would
take place.
The members of the Australian Olympic Federation Executive
explained to the Prime Minister that any decision for the
withdrawal of the Australian team could only be made by a
full conference of the Federation, the members of which
would comprise representatives of all the national controlling
Unions of sports printed in the Games Programme, and the
State Olympic Councils. The next scheduled conference, which
takes into account team nominations, and other factors, is to
be held on 19 April. and, because of the rules, it could
not be held before that time. / 2
-2
All participants found the discussions this morning
constructive and useful. The Government has taken note of the
points made by the Federation. For its part, the Federation
has indicated that it will be watching future developments
very closely and will be giving serious consideration to the
views that the Government has put.
000---
J7 If
oear mr. cranrje,
I refer to imy letter of 22 Jaliary lart anld to Mr. Sta eyla-.
letter of 5 February regarding the holdinfg Of tbL-XXII
Olympic Gmnies in Moscow.
You will be aware that. since 22 January, I have had
discussions in the 11nited States kind Europe with the
leadexs of thle United Stcltes, United IYintgdom, Wst Of~ anY
arid France rcgarding the Scvict invasion of Afghanislta~ n
and its serious cffccta on world peace. In part, those
discussions havecovered the boycott-Tif-the Olympic Games.
in Moscow.
* On my return, Tr-eported to Cabinct 01i-tia rest. j t of those
discussions' and3 Cabinet gave forther consideration to its
attitude to holding the Ganxis in Moscow.
The Governirent has strongly reaffirncd the viCw expre ssed
in my lettcr of 22 January that if Soviet troops do Dot
withdraw from Afthanistaiiex~ proposed b~ y Prcenñ. arte-r..*
1Moscow will be an tu-suit. able site for the Gamies. The
Goverment is also strongly of the view that it would not
be in the-zi-tional intexest of Aus tralia for Australianls
to participate in Gwinen held in lmoscow and therefore asks.
that, In the event Of tIhe Suviet not Withdrawing from
Afghanistan, no Australian team he sent to Moscow.
For if an Australian team viere to they-would be used
volitically by the Soviet Union whatever our athletes
dlid or said in Moscow, The Soviet Covernrnent would represent
the participation of Australian and othier athlotes as a
political triumph for the Soviet Union--. -lndced, the Soviet'
Union has now been describing the -holding; of th~ h~ irC
Moscow as " convincing proof of the universal recognition
of the historical importance and correctness of thle course
of out country's foreign -policy' 7, t he vast cc'ntrtilnition of
the Soviet Union to the struggile for peace"-It is thus the
Soviet Union whichs is Insisting, n) ol$ t just on mixing sport
and politics, but that sport Is-yolitics. Austrata and--
Australians should not be parfy to this violation of the.-
Olympic ideal. 2
Ar r~ abIe M'ui~ rr~
GAI~ PPRI~ A N
yoursetive for the G
Is It tha
i nvasion?
nuf ficien
small for
need to b
before Ho
site? if
or closer
these que
that, at a
of a poop
of the Ca
I hope th
all this,
of hinrisi'
gone to B'
which the,
that ther
people sh
. At the sa, -2-
uL_ comO to a fina. l 1i0W, . L-Wculd like you to asZk
' a what, ill your view, would be Sufficient cjaUsLe
amcs to be moved, or have Australians not attend.
tan inVasion ini~ Anumistwn is not a nufficihnt
H~ ave the Soviets not insed cnough troops to qive
t cause? Or is the populatiois of Aft. lhaflistan too)
it to mattL-r enongh? How, m1ainy Sovict tL. oops Aiould
e~ used in that invosion, occupatioin andC suppresslion.
scow, in your vicw, woulo becomc ' 13) inappropriate
tthoe Euinrovpaes, i onw owuledr e thoaf t aa eltoeurrn tyryo ucr lojusdegr mteon t? A usI traasl); i, a
ations because I ama sure you will agree with me
Orne point, mn invasion,, occupation * 011 suppression
le would be -sufficien~ t cause for an abandonment
at tbe Australian Olyilip~ c Perteriation will reflvct offand
go on to as~ k thcmselves whether, with the benefit
ght, any Olynipic of fi'cialih or nth~ t~ et; would have
erlin-ibr-1936 -had they'known ie propaqwida use to
ir preacee wuuld. br put.. The Government bc-lieves
c,. can be only one. assdw rti hat thje -Australiajr
atreth--* eef.--
me time, the Austra) iLwm ej)~ ej C-' Veru' nun~ a h-r
to thei pxcrdicame-. t In which our ath~ re Ufind tmselves,
through no fault of thecir ows,,. With this in mind, the
Government. is+, as you know, pursuing Initiatives with the
United Stat~ bs,..; 4ad'ot3 i'( ove-rnment-w) i -hare a slm~ ilnr
view, to provide an alternmitive site for the XXil Olympiad
or, if the Olympic Grimes are not mnoved, to providc a. site or
s-Tites for ganms 01ece high-level internationa~ l cuimptitiorn cabe
had witb the' athletes of other like-milided natiornf. The-
Governmecnt is prepared to mal~ e + a substantial financial contribution,'
In order to ensure that such compctitionl would availablce.
Yours~ iincercly,
( Malcom rrasnnr.)
Mr. Grange,
President, Australian~ Oly mpic Fedexation,
141 Osborne Street,
SOUTH1 YARRA VIC. 3141.
U