New Zealanders are being asked to share their proudest moments with the New Zealand Olympic Team and inspire our athletes as they head to the London Olympic Games. The campaign for the 2012 Games was launched in Auckland today by Chef de Mission Dave Currie who said athletes would draw on the success of our nation to make them proud and achieve their goals. New Zealand has a proud Olympic history, but we also have incredible success in the arts, business, music and science. This campaign is about making our athletes proud and inspiring them to succeed. We will do this by asking New Zealanders to tell us when they were most proud to be a New Zealander. Outstanding New Zealanders including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Sir Russell Coutts, Dick Frizzell, Barbara Kendall and Split Enz band member Mike Chunn have signed on to be part of the campaign and share their proudest moments with New Zealand. New Zealand Olympic Committee Secretary General Kereyn Smith says the campaign idea is new and unique. In the past, weve asked New Zealanders to be inspired by our Olympians, for the London Olympic Games were doing things differently. Were asking New Zealanders to inspire our team. Olympic Ambassador Sarah Ulmer says the campaign will help athletes achieve success on the worlds stage. To know that you come from a proud nation with a history of achievement gives you an edge, she said. Athletes will draw on our success as a country as they prepare to compete at the London Olympic Games. Making Us Proud is a 16-month long campaign that offers New Zealanders opportunities to be proud and asks them to share their stories. The campaign is represented by a mark featuring a fern and the letters NZ. Its design was inspired by the New Zealand Olympic Team Blazer worn by New Zealands seven athletes at the London Olympic Games in 1948. A fleet of traditional Black Cabs is on the road in London painted in New Zealand team livery. There is also a replica here in New Zealand. As part of the campaign, New Zealanders will also be asked to help choose a team anthem for the London Olympic Games, take part in designing the uniform, cheer the team on at Olympic Live Sites in New Zealand and compete to win the chance to welcome the team home with an official parade. In London, New Zealanders can take part in a Haka in Hyde Park, celebrate the Olympic Opening ceremony and cheer on the team at New Zealand House or purchase tickets to Olympic events. New Zealanders are asked to share their proud moments through www.NZ2012.com and the teams Facebook, Twitter and YouTube communities. Dave Currie said the campaign is designed to give every New Zealander the opportunity to be proud and be part of the Olympic Team to London. The campaign was launched at Aucklands waterfront event this evening in front of a crowd of proud New Zealanders including Olympic Gold medallists Sir Murray Halberg, Sir Russell Coutts, Rob Waddell, Danyon Loader and Sarah Ulmer together with artist Dick Frizzell, business leader Geoff Ross and fashion designer Trelise Cooper. London Olympic Scholarship holders Nikki Hamblin (athletics), Ryan Sissons (triathlon), Daniel Bell (swimming) and Blair Tuke (sailing) were also at the event. The London Olympic Games will take place July 27 August 12 2012. New Zealand will field a team of approximately 190 athletes in 17 sports. Team selections will take place from late 2011 through until June 2012.
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