§ 41. Mr. Arthur Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take steps to provide assistance to the British teams competing in the Olympic Games, in view of the necessity for such teams to have adequate pre-Olympic team training.
§ Mr. Denis Howell:In preparation for the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico and on the recommendation of the Sports Council, the Government are assisting in the establishment of special pre-Olympic training for squads of competitors of international standard from whom the actual British representatives will be chosen. Government assistance will be made in cases of need towards the administrative costs of such special training and towards the travel and maintenance costs of the competitors. These arrangements have been notified to the governing bodies of all the sports concerned.
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§ 42. Mr. Concannonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the results of the study by the medical research team financed by his Department into the altitude problem for the Mexican Olympic Games; and what further action he proposes to take to enable British sportsmen to obtain adequate acclimatization to those special conditions between now and the holding of the Games.
§ Mr. Denis Howell:There have been three research projects in altitude acclimatisation grant aided by the Government. Two have taken place in Mexico City and the third at Font Romeu in the Pyrenees. Reports have been issued and as these findings have become available they have been used in acclimatisation training schemes for the Olympics, held at Font Romeu during 1967. The Government have offered grant assistance towards the cost of these schemes and governing bodies of sport have been informed that similar assistance will be available for further acclimatisation training at Font Romeu during 1968.