The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) has presented its 2021 Annual Report today at its General Assembly.
Via online video conferencing, NZOC President Mike Stanley (Olympian #504) thanked representatives from the 54 member sports for their commitment to Olympic and Commonwealth sport during 2021.
“2021 saw New Zealand win 20 medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games, making it our most successful Olympic Games ever,” said Stanley.
“The New Zealand Team results were achieved despite the unprecedented circumstances, created by the Covid-19 pandemic, and year-long postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games.
“Our success arose from system-wide collaboration, alignment and a shared vision across the sport sector. By working as a collective, the negative effects of Covid-19 and the rescheduled Olympic Games were mitigated, and New Zealand returned the best Olympic Games medal results in history.”
Despite the challenges presented by the postponed Olympic Games, and despite the extensive costs incurred in an Olympic year, the NZOC finished 2021 with a favourable budget line.
“Financially, the 2021 deficit of $1.14m was $180,000 favourable to budget and in line with the 2016 Rio Olympic Games year deficit,” said Stanley.
“We recorded revenues of $18.2m which is the largest in the history of NZOC, reflecting the unique Covid impacted year. Revenues were inflated from one-off contributions from High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) Reset and Rebuild funding and a contribution towards COVID-19 costs from Sport New Zealand and the IOC. We thank them for their support.”
Despite interruptions to events and planned activities for 2021 due to COVID-19, as part of its strategy the NZOC was still able to provide substantial support to athletes and NSOs through funding mechanisms such as Olympic Solidarity, the newly established New Zealand Olympic Foundation and the New Zealand Olympic Athletes’ Collective. Approximately $1.87m was distributed directly to NSOs and athletes in 2021.
“I would like to thank our commercial partners, donors and funders for their ongoing support of the New Zealand Team,” said Stanley.
“We recognise the pressures they have been under during the pandemic and thank them for their confidence in the New Zealand Team. We highlight the decade of support from major sponsor ANZ, who announced the conclusion of our relationship at the end of 2021. We acknowledge Sir Owen Glenn, along with our Olympic Foundation whānau, including our valued BlackGold and Olympic Council members.
“We also thank performance delivery partner HPSNZ for their ongoing collaboration and support. Additionally, we’d like to acknowledge Sport NZ for their commitment to sport in the wider community.”
The membership took time to acknowledge those lost to the Olympic and Commonwealth Games movements in 2021, including Sir Eion Edgar, our Honorary President and good friend of the NZOC.
Finally, Stanley paid tribute to former NZOC CEO Kereyn Smith, who has concluded her time in the role.
“I extend my most heartfelt thanks to Kereyn Smith, CEO of the New Zealand Olympic Committee for eleven years. She led the staff, and the wider New Zealand Team, through one of the most challenging periods in New Zealand Olympic history. She did so with strength, warmth and foresight, bringing the right people together when it mattered most. We wish her the very best for an exciting future.”
Growing Influence of Athletes’ Commission
Delivering on its strategy of enhancing athlete mana and voice, the NZOC Athletes’ Commission continued to grow its influence and add value to New Zealand sport and the Olympic Movement during 2021.
Athlete welfare and the impact of COVID-19 continued to be at the forefront of the New Zealand sporting system, as was maintaining support for the athletes through the complexities of the Tokyo Olympic Games and MIQ.
The NZOC Athletes’ Commission promoted the need for additional well-being support for non-carded athletes, athlete-focused communications and opportunities for athletes to share their ideas and concerns with others.
“We’re fortunate to see the incredible highs of our athletes lives but we need to continue to work on what support looks like in the low times,” said Athletes’ Commission Chair Sarah Cowley Ross (Olympian #1134) in her address to NZOC member federations.
“In the pressure cooker environment of sport, we all must remember our athletes can be vulnerable and the quest for optimal physical health should not be at the expense of their mental health. Collectively we must do better.”
Diana Puketapu Elected to NZOC Board
Experienced Director Diana Puketapu has been re-elected to the NZOC Board for a second term.
Puketapu has been on the NZOC Board for seven years and has been Chair of the NZOC Audit & Risk Committee since 2015. She is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.
Puketapu was recommended for re-election by the New Zealand Olympic Committee Board Appointments Panel. The New Zealand Olympic Committee Board Appointments Panel comprises an independent membership and board representative and is designed to support the maintenance of an experienced and balanced board.
We thank the other applicants who applied as part of the robust process.
Governor-General Appointed NZOC Patron
NZOC Member Federations were advised that Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand has been officially appointed as the Patron of the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
“The New Zealand Olympic Committee is extremely pleased and honoured to be continuing our relationship with the Governor General,” said Stanley.
“Our athletes are role models, who inspire participation in sport, and show us what we value in our selves; determination, resilience, excellence, pride, integrity and our genuine kiwi ability to connect with and relate to people the world over.
“With the Patronage of Dame Cindy we have no doubt our Olympic and Commonwealth athletes will continue to inspire. We very much look forward to a wonderful relationship which creates positive change in New Zealand.”
Modern Pentathlon Approved as Member Federation
NZOC Member Federations approved an application for membership from New Zealand Modern Pentathlon (Aotearoa) Incorporated.
The sport of Modern Pentathlon is recognised by the IOC and on the Olympic Sports Programme for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Programme.
The NZOC Board endorsed the application for membership which will begin immediately.
2022 & Roadmap to Brisbane 2032
NZOC CEO Nicki Nicol also shared insights into the future with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to begin in just over two months.
“Preparations for the Birmingham 2022 are well underway,” said Nicol.
“We expect to have around 220 New Zealand Team athletes competing across 20 sports and three para sports at the Games. Birmingham 2022 is promising to be a fantastic celebration of sport, friendship and the Commonwealth, and we know your athletes are looking forward to getting there and showing what they’re capable of.”
Nicol also drew the memberships attention to the ten-year roadmap to the Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympic Games. She says the Games, as well as the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games, present a fabulous opportunity for sport in New Zealand.
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