NZ Soccer flouts Olympics betting ban

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The TAB is confident New Zealand Soccer has opened the way for betting on a variety of sports at next month's Olympic Games.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee has opposed betting on Olympic sports after a strong "we don't want it" message from the IOC.

But NZOC secretary-general Barry Maister yesterday admitted it could not stop New Zealand Soccer going ahead with plans to have betting on matches at the Olympic tournament.

"We have put our views out to New Zealand sporting bodies," Maister said. "The IOC feels that betting on sports at the Games is at loggerheads with their Olympic ideals."

As a parent body, the NZOC cannot take any role in sports betting or benefit from it.

But it seems that does not stop it from accepting a large percentage of its funding from pokie machines.

The national body has received $4.65 million over a three-year period from charity gaming and is looking to renew that arrangement after Athens.

Asked whether he saw this as clash of principles, Maister said: "I regard the two forms [of betting] as absolutely different. On one hand you are betting on human beings who can be influenced by betting; on the other you are talking about betting against a machine. They are totally different."

Asked whether he and his board would prefer sports did not profit from betting at the Olympics, Maister said: "I would not say the board said that.

"From my understanding, no national Olympic committees benefit from sports betting."

Sports betting has been a huge earner for New Zealand sports, with rugby, league and soccer the biggest beneficiaries.

New Zealand Soccer received more than $250,000 last year after a successful 2002 World Cup and should pocket $70,000-$80,000 from the recent Euro 2004 tournament.

TAB spokesman Ken Rutherford said that other sports which could benefit from betting at the Olympics include boxing, cycling, basketball and tennis.

"There is no pressure on the sports to come in," Rutherford said. "The Olympics are an important time for our customers. You can be sure Australian-based Centrebet will be heavily involved."

Rutherford said he was disappointed by the NZOC stance.

New Zealand Soccer chief executive Bill MacGowan welcomed the opportunity for betting on soccer matches in Athens.

"Soccer was one of the first sports to link with the TAB when sports betting was introduced," MacGowan said.

"Our contract with them allows them to accept betting on any football - internationally or domestically."

Tennis New Zealand chief executive Don Turner said he accepted the NZOC had some serious misgivings, but admitted he would like to see betting on the Olympic tennis tournament.

"We received about $50,000 from the TAB this year," Turner said. "No sports body can afford to turn down any income. We are not going to say to the TAB 'don't do it'."

Basketball New Zealand chief executive David Crocker was unaware of the NZOC stance.

"We have an agreement with the TAB for gambling on basketball," Crocker said. "We don't see this as being any different. It's an important revenue stream for our organisation."

There was betting on the recent three-test series between the Tall Blacks and Boomers.