THE SIDELINES : Czech Swimmer Gets Canada OK

MONTREAL — Czechoslovak swimmer Marcel Gery was given approval to swim at the 1990 Commonwealth Games when the federal Cabinet accepted his application for Canadian citizenship, a Swimming Canada spokesman said today.

Gery, who defected in October, 1986, is a world class freestyle and butterfly swimmer. He is expected to boost Canada’s medal hopes at the Jan. 24-Feb. 3 Commonwealth Games at Auckland, New Zealand.

Gery, who qualified for the Games in the 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly, missed the 1988 Olympics because the Canadian government rejected his request for early citizenship, bypassing the customary three-year waiting period. He missed the 1984 Olympics when Czechoslovakia boycotted the Los Angeles Games.