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New Zealand Olympic Team Chef de Mission Dave Currie has arrived back in New Zealand, after attending the one-year-out Chef de Mission seminar on the back of a site visit ahead of the London Olympic Games next year. Currie was one of many Chefs de Mission and delegates from over 200 National Olympic Committees (NOC) that took part in the three daylong seminar. The event was a final chance for Currie to get updates from the London 2012 Organising Committee from all the separate departments ahead of London 2012. The seminar left a positive impression with Currie saying as a group, we were left confident that a well-organised Olympic Games would be held next year in fact, I would go so far as to say it was the best Chef de Mission conference I have attended. During the visit Currie was able to attend meetings surrounding many topics for London 2012, including ticketing, accommodation and ceremonies. Also included in the three day seminar was a visit to Olympic Park and Horse Guard Parade, where the volleyball will be taking place. The athletes village and surrounding venues were given a positive appraisal by Currie. The location of so many key venues within one kilometre of the athletes village will make life easy for athletes, he said. Currie has also attended a number of events during the London site visit. The test events are designed to test venue functionality and give high performance teams a look at how systems and processes will work during the Games. The test events Currie attended included the Junior Rowing World Championships on the Olympic course at Eton Dorney, the ITU World Series Triathlon at Hyde Park and the Weymouth and Portland International Regatta. Questions were raised at the seminar surrounding security after the recent London riots but Currie remains confident that London can still host a secure Olympic Games. He was warmed to see the community working together to clean up in the aftermath. Athlete safety is our highest priority, Currie and We have confidence in the Organising Committee and know they will now evaluate the recent unrest before hosting a safe and secure Olympic Games next year. As in the build-up to any games, well continue to work with our government teams who will monitor and provide advice around security at games time. The London riots did not affect or disrupt the NOC representatives during their visit as the events were contained to localised areas.
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