The Selection Panel for the 2016 Olympiad has been named today.
Current selector Simon Wickham has been named chair and will be joined by experienced sports administrator and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Mike Kernaghan and existing board member Tony Hall. The three-person panel will be responsible for selecting athletes for the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014, the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014 and the Olympic Games Rio 2016.
The new appointees will replace incumbents Mike Stanley, President of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, Secretary General Kereyn Smith and board member Rosemary Nye (Olympic Winter Games Selector).
Stanley said he was delighted to make the announcement today. The members of the 2016 selection panel have significant experience in high performance sport and an in-depth understanding of the complexities of qualification and selection. We are especially pleased to welcome a non-standing board member to the panel. We know Mike will bring a considered perspective from outside the New Zealand Olympic Committee Board.
Stanley said that typically selectors are appointed from within the New Zealand Olympic Committee Board but expressions of interest were sought from the wider sports community for the first time.
New Appointee to Assist with Selection
Planning is also underway to appoint a new staff member to focus on selection within the New Zealand Olympic Committee. The proposed appointment will provide additional resource throughout the qualification, nomination and selection process supporting both the selectors and National Sporting Organisations.
Selection is complex and we are confident the additional resource will assist under-resourced sports in the build-up to games, said Stanley. Its about making sure our athletes have the best processes in place to support them as they strive for selection at Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
HPSNZ will also work with National Sporting Organisations and the New Zealand Olympic Committee to monitor and track the performances in the build-up to games.
About Olympic and Commonwealth Games Qualification, Selection and Nomination
Olympic and Commonwealth Games selection criteria is set by the board of the New Zealand Olympic Committee in consultation with the National Sporting Organisations.
Sports nominate athletes according to the agreed criteria and provide supporting documentation.
The Selection Panel assesses the nomination against to the criteria.
The Selection Panel is made up of two Olympic Committee board members and an outside selector.
The outside selector was application process called for expressions of interest from credible and qualified sports administrators.
Applicants were to be free from conflicts of interest.
All appointments to the selection panel are made by the New Zealand Olympic Committee board.
Updating Governance Processes
The appointment of a non-standing board member to the Selection Panel is new in 2013. The step was taken by the New Zealand Olympic Committee to ensure selection and governance processes follow best-practice. In 2012 a more robust process for the election of board members was also developed. For the first time (and notable as unusual Olympic and sporting circles around the world) an open application process for vacancies and a Board Appointment Panel to make recommendations to the voting membership was introduced.
Ends
Notes for Editor: ABOUT THE NEW ZEALAND OLYMPIC AND COMMONWEALTH GAMES SELECTORS 2016
Mike Kernaghan Currently CEO Cancer Society Otago and Southland Member Athletes Commission, New Zealand Olympic Committee (1996 2009) Chair Athletes Commission, New Zealand Olympic Committee (2003 2009) Bronze Medal 2002 Commonwealth Games, Manchester, England Coach NZ Mens and Womens Bowls Team to 1998 Commonwealth Games, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Previous sports administration roles include: Chief Executive Badminton New Zealand 2008 - 2010 Deputy CEO Football New Zealand 2005 2008 CEO Triathlon New Zealand - 2003 2005 Programme Manager Sport Otago 1999 - 2002 Director of Bowls Performance 1996 - 1999
Tony Hall MNZM NZOC Board Member since 2012 Background in business, economic development, education and sport. Current directorships include: o Pro-Chancellor Lincoln University o Chairman of Community Colleges of New Zealand Council o Commissioner on the Tertiary Education Commission Board o Founding Chairman of North Canterbury Economic Development Trust o Board member Canterbury West Coast Sports Trust o Board member North Canterbury Sport and Recreation Trust (chair 2006 2011) Member of Coast to Coast Event Management Team Active in multi-sport Coast to Coast, Moutain Running and Marathons Competitive sailing (including Two Man Around North Island) Development of innovation cluster for gold-medal winning paralympian Adam Hall
Simon Wickham Chair Current Deputy Chairman, New Zealand Olympic Committee NZOC Selector for Beijing and London Olympic Games, Vancouver and Turin Winter Olympic Games, Melbourne and Delhi Commonwealth Games Former Chairman, Gymsports New Zealand 2009, 2010 Chief Executive, The Trusts (2010 to present) Chief Executive, The Trusts Stadium (2005 to 2010) Chief Executive, Yachting New Zealand (2000 2005) Ashley Abbott Communications Manager New Zealand Olympic Committee
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