Press Release

The New Zealand Olympic Committee understands diet significantly influences athletic performance and encourages athletes to adopt appropriate nutritional strategies that are in accordance with the 2010 IOC Consensus Statement on Sports Nutrition.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee is satisfied that the New Zealand Academy of Sports supplement programme is in accordance with the IOC Consensus Statemetn.

This week, more than 4300 pupils from all over New Zealand will take part in the Olympic Day Run. The run, held annually in more than 200 countries, encourages people all over the world to get moving and participate in sporting and cultural activities, such as runs, exhibitions, music and educational seminars.

Students will also be encouraged to get active and try new sports as a part of the Olympic Day themes of Learn, Move and Discover.

Chef de Mission Dave Currie departs for London this evening ahead of his first site visit to the Olympic Host City.

Top of the agenda for Currie and his team understanding the environment to ensure there are no surprises for athletes at games time.

“We’re all about performance,” said Currie. “This site visit is about the operations and logistics of the London Olympic Games and developing critical relationships with organisers.

“Our role is to provide an environment that enables athletes to deliver their potential. There can be no surprises.”

Olympic Movement continues its role in promoting peace through sport

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) hosted its first meeting between the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of Israel and Palestine aimed at addressing a number of outstanding sports-related issues. Both NOCs agreed to convene in Lausanne following IOC President Jacques Rogge’s visit to the Middle East last October.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee is pleased to confirm that 1500m athlete Nick Willis will be presented with his Beijing silver medal at the International Track Meet in Christchurch on Feb 26th at QEII Stadium.

Willis finished third in the glamour event of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but was subsequently upgraded to second following the disqualification of the gold medallist, Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain.

The Olympic Museum has recently acquired the collection of inspirational and innovative New Zealand coach Arthur Lydiard.

Charles Callis, Director of the Olympic Museum, says, “the Arthur Lydiard collection is a highly significant and important addition to the expanding collection of the Olympic Museum. It is my intention that the material will be publicly accessible for research purposes and Olympic Museum exhibitions.”

Arthur can be credited for guiding the outstanding running careers of well known champions as Peter Snell, Bill Baillie, Sir Murray Halberg. And Barry Magee.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) has awarded the Silver Ferns the Lonsdale Cup for 2010.

The Lonsdale Cup is the NZOC’s most prestigious award and goes to the athlete or team that has made the most outstanding contribution to an Olympic or Commonwealth Sport each year.

The Silver Ferns were named this year’s recipient after their double extra time win against arch-rivals Australia in the final event of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

New Zealand Olympic Committee President Mike Stanley was delighted to make the announcement today.

Barry Maister has been appointed to the newly established Entourage Commission at the IOC to address matters relating to the relationship between athletes and their coaches, agents and other support staff.

The Commission is chaired by IOC Executive Board Member and Olympic pole vaulter Sergey Bubka and includes Sir Clive Woodward (current Director of Elite Performance at the British Olympic Association), Pat McQuaid (President of the UCI) and gold medal winning ice hockey player Angela Ruggiero (USA).