TVNZ taken to task

The chairman of the Hillary Commission, Sir Ronald Scott, has joined in the chorus of criticism over television coverage of the World Games for the Deaf.

He said Television New Zealand was insensitive to the needs of the deaf when covering the Games, which ended at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday.

“I can’t accept the lack of sensitivity, the lack of thought, the lack of professionalism in the way they’ve covered these Games,” he said.

“When they showed results and action from the Games they did not include in the studio people who were able to communicate with the deaf. I would have thought that it would have been automatic to communicate to that section of the public.

“It would have been useful in helping to create a better understanding for the general public’s interest in a special sector of society.

“These were a World Games. They were a major sporting event,” he said.

However, Sir Ronald was less critical of TVNZ’s volume of coverage which has come in for attack from some quarters over the last week.

“I can accept reluctantly why TVNZ could not provide an extensive coverage of the Games. I can understand they have a logistics problem,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sir Ronald, who is patron of the New Zealand Deaf Sports Association, will ask the Hillary Commission to help deaf sports.

He said with a more professional management organisation and funding, deaf sports would receive a higher public profile and help lift the standard of some sports.

Jackets stolen

Five track suit jackets were stolen from the British soccer team’s changing room at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday.

The clothing was taken while Britain was playing Ireland in the final at the World Games for the Deaf. Britain won 5–0.

No arrests have been made.