ANZ gets behind New Zealand Olympic team

ANZ announced it will be Major Sponsor of the New Zealand team for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The three-year sponsorship with the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) was announced at a gala event in Auckland. After welcoming the world to New Zealand for Rugby World Cup 2011, ANZ is now taking New Zealands best to the world for the London 2012 Olympic Games, ANZ Chief Executive Officer David Hisco said. As Major Sponsor of the New Zealand Olympic Team, were proud to support our athletes as they compete in the ultimate sporting event, the Olympic Games. We are delighted that our sponsorship will help our New Zealand athletes take on the best in the world and deliver the most successful Olympic campaign New Zealand has ever seen, he said. In addition to sponsoring the NZOC for the London 2012 Olympic Games, ANZ will be sponsoring some of the countrys most promising athletes: Hamish Bond (rowing), Eric Murray (Rowing), Natasha Hansen (Cycling) and Emma Twigg (Rowing). In addition, ANZ will sponsor two top Kiwi athletes - Rebecca Dubber (Swimming) and Cameron Leslie (Swimming) to the 2012 Paralympic Games. Starting in June, ANZ will bring a taste of the London 2012 Olympic Games to all New Zealanders with an Olympic tour bus. The bright blue double-decker bus will visit towns throughout the country, with a number of former Olympians, including ANZ Olympic Ambassadors and former Olympic gold medallists Hamish Carter or Sarah Ulmer, for most of the tour. Its an honour to have two New Zealand Olympic legends as ANZ Olympic Ambassadors. Theyre looking forward to visiting communities around the country and getting all New Zealanders behind our Olympic team, Mr Hisco said. ANZ has begun its search for New Zealands Flag Envoy a boy or girl who will carry the New Zealand flag to London. The young envoy will travel to London with their parents and present the flag to the Governor-General and the New Zealand athlete who will carry the flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics. Nominations for Flag Envoy can be made at www.anz.co.nz/FlagEnvoy This will be the opportunity of a lifetime for a young New Zealander to carry the pride and hopes of New Zealand to London, and witness history in the making as our Kiwi athletes take on the world, Mr Hisco said. The three-year sponsorship will also cover the 2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival, 2014 Commonwealth games, 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games and the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. As a company thats been in New Zealand for about 170 years, everyone at ANZ is enormously proud to help our athletes compete for Olympic gold. The sponsorship will highlight the NZ in ANZ, Mr Hisco said. ANZ is the official insurance services provider to the NZOC.