200 days to go until Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games

Today (Monday 18 January) marks 200 days to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero and as the pressure comes on sports and athletes New Zealand Olympic Team Chef de Mission Rob Waddell says New Zealanders can look forward to an outstanding Olympic year.

Theres no doubt, time is of the essence, said Waddell, the three time Olympian who is heading to his first Olympic Games as Chef de Mission. We are on deadline and there is no going back. Its a crucial time for the athletes, but also for the New Zealand Olympic Committee, national sporting organisations and the Rio 2016 Organising Committee.

...we are confident New Zealanders athletes will deliver some outstanding results at Rio

Waddell last visited Rio in December and says progress in the South American city continues to be made. The athletes village is close to completion and is of a very high quality. Were looking forward to creating a uniquely New Zealand environment that will give our athletes the edge.  

There has also been strong progress made across competition venues and we are confident everything will be in place for athletes come games time. With 200 days to go, the Rio Organising Committee, however, must remain focused on the task at hand.  

Our job is to understand the environment as final adjustments are made to games delivery. We must make sure sports and athletes have the information and resources they need to deliver the best results possible.  

Latest calculations by the New Zealand Olympic Committee confirm initial estimates that the team would number just over 200 athletes, making the New Zealand Olympic Team at Rio the largest ever.  

With an official High Performance Sport New Zealand target of 14 medals achievable, the games could also be our most successful.   

Last years World Championship results indicate strong performances across our top sports and while the standard of competition in Olympic year is always another step up, we are confident New Zealanders athletes will deliver some outstanding results at Rio.  

He notes that a range of young athletes are among those working towards selection.  

I was delighted to see 19-year-old pole vaulter Eliza McCartney break the U20 world record and strengthen her chances to make the New Zealand Olympic Games Team and fellow teenager Dylan Schmidt and Youth Olympic gold medallist has qualified to compete at a sought-after Rio trampoline test event in April, again, helping him on his road to Rio.  

I know from experience just how tough it is to achieve a spot in the New Zealand Olympic Team but I am looking forward to welcoming many young athletes like Eliza and Dylan to their first Olympic Games alongside some of our more experienced Olympians.  

Over the next two months New Zealand Olympic Team Rio workshops will get underway with athletes and support staff receiving briefings on the games-time environment and what it means to be part of the New Zealand Olympic Team. In March the New Zealand Olympic Team selections get underway and a final site visit to Rio is scheduled.