KEY NZ WINTER SPORTS LIKELY FOR OLYMPIC PROGRAMME Three key winter events are a step closer to being included in the Sochi Olympic Winter Games programme and, if included, will provide a significant step forward for winter Olympic sport in New Zealand. The three events are Ski Halfpipe, Ski Slopestyle and Snowboard Slopestyle. Kiwi athletes such as Ski Halfpipe world number one Jossi Wells and his brother Byron, together with world Snowboard Slopestyle number three Shelley Gotlieb are already making their mark in these sports internationally. The inclusion of these events in the Olympic Winter Games will significantly strengthen New Zealands Olympic winter sport programme. The announcement today is significant for New Zealand winter sport, said Ashley Light, High Peformance Director of the Winter Performance Programme. These events are ideally suited to young New Zealand athletes who thrive on adrenaline and risk. They suit our culture and they also suit the facilities we have in New Zealand. Their inclusion in the Sochi 2014 programme will lead to a whole new generation of Olympic athletes. The Executive Board (EB) of the IOC announced today that it is looking favourably at the inclusion of the three events along with Womens Ski Jumping, Biathlon Mixed Team Relay, Figure Skating Team Event and Luge Team Relay. Before taking a final decision, the EB said it would like to consider the outcome of the respective World Championships which will take place during the Northern Hemisphere winter season in 2011. The EB has empowered the IOC President Jacques Rogge to make the final decision on its behalf. The New Zealand Olympic Committee supports the development of winter sport in New Zealand through Olympic solidarity grants to athletes ($367,000 ahead of Vancouver 2010), financial support for the Winter Performance Programme and support and financial assistance for the Winter Games NZ.
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