Newsletter # 29
October 2005

FOUR MILLION STRONG: Real Kiwi supporters - including a 91-year-old woman who walks half marathons and can touch her toes from a standing start – feature in an advertising campaign to support New Zealand’s team at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. “The whole premise of the campaign is to reflect the enormous commitment of support from home that New Zealand athletes take to a Games,” says New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) Secretary General, Barry Maister. “Effectively, it’s a support team of four million. “We’ve used real people, not actors, and we’ve had a bit of fun in the TV ads, showing our heroes ‘training’ for their role as supporters in March next year and showing them supporting from home during the Games,” said Mr Maister.

MELBOURNE CONFERENCE: A highly successful conference was held in Melbourne in early October with members of the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team and representatives from all Commonwealth Games sports. The conference started with a comprehensive venue tour before settling down to two days of presentations and discussions. The conference was designed to help iron out concerns and continue to build an inspirational team environment by bringing to life the Games experience and further developing 'One Team - One Spirit'.

WINTER TEAM SITE VISIT: Olympic Winter Games Chef de Mission Tomas Huppert and Games Team Manager Michelle Tapper are in Italy during late October finalising their preparations for the Winter Games which begin in Turin in February.

FORMER NZOC SECRETARY GENERAL DIES SUDDENLY: Former New Zealand Olympic Committee Secretary General, Fred Smith, died suddenly at his home in England in early October. Fred, who was Secretary General of the NZOC between 1990 - 1991, was 59. Since Fred left the NZOC, he established Strategic Leisure which did recreational planning work for the Hillary Commission and local authorities. Fred left New Zealand to go to the Queensland Sports and Recreation Department for a few years and then to Hong Kong University where he lectured in sport and recreation management. Just last year Fred and his wife Rosemary headed back to the UK where Fred was the Course Director for the Sport Programme at the University of West England.

COLLEEN MILLS PASSES AWAY: Following the news of the sudden death of Fred Smith came the sad news that Colleen Mills had passed away. Colleen was a highly accomplished athlete representing New Zealand at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. Colleen was the wife of Olympian Les Mills and mother of another two top track and field athletes, Phillip and Donna. Les, of course, was Chef de Mission of the 1998 Commonwealth Games team to Kuala Lumpur and the Olympic team in Sydney in 2000.

FOUNDING DAY: The NZOC celebrated its 94th birthday on October 18 when it hosted its annual Founding Day celebration in Wellington. The function was held at the City Gallery in Civic Square and included cultural presentations and addresses from members sports and New Zealand Olympic Order holders.

FAUMUINA GAINS GLOBAL APPOINTMENT: Athens Olympic Games flagbearer Beatrice Faumuina has been appointed a goodwill ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. The 1997 world discus champion is honoured to have been asked to assist the Organisation in its effort to defeat hunger in developed and developing countries.Faumuina, who is on the International Association of Athletics Federations athletes commission, was recommended for the position by the IAAF. "It is a first for New Zealand and a first for Oceania. I am really honoured and it caps a great year for me," added Faumuina. In June Faumuina received the ONZM for services to athletics.

OLYMPIC FOUNDATION: The Board of the NZOC have confirmed the initial trustees of the newly estalished Olympic Foundation. The trustees are Sir Roy McKenzie, settlor; Eion Edgar, Board Chair; Mark Weldon, Board; Barbara Kendall, Board; Peter Masfen; David Appleby.

OLYMPIANS CLUB: The NZOC Board has endorsed the need to formally recognise those athletes selected for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, who were denied the opportunity to compete for reasons beyond their control. Although they cannot be Olympians as such they will be identified on the NZOC website, and a letter of acknowledgement will be sent to each of them.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES DRAWS: In recent days the draws have been made for the Commonwealth Games hockey competition and Rugby Sevens in Melbourne in March next year. You can check out both those draws at www.melbourne2006.com.au

Let me know if you have any information you'd like included in the newsletter. You can contact me at gordon@olympic.org.nz





		Newsletter # 29 October 2005
		FOUR MILLION STRONG: Real Kiwi supporters - including a 91-year-old woman who walks half marathons and can touch her toes from a standing start – feature in an advertising campaign to support New Zealand’s team at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. “The whole premise of the campaign is to reflect the enormous commitment of support from home that New Zealand athletes take to a Games,” says New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) Secretary General, Barry Maister. “Effectively, it’s a support team of four million. “We’ve used real people, not actors, and we’ve had a bit of fun in the TV ads, showing our heroes ‘training’ for their role as supporters in March next year and showing them supporting from home during the Games,” said Mr Maister. MELBOURNE CONFERENCE: A highly successful conference was held in Melbourne in early October with members of the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team and representatives from all Commonwealth Games sports. The conference started with a comprehensive venue tour before settling down to two days of presentations and discussions. The conference was designed to help iron out concerns and continue to build an inspirational team environment by bringing to life the Games experience and further developing 'One Team - One Spirit'. WINTER TEAM SITE VISIT: Olympic Winter Games Chef de Mission Tomas Huppert and Games Team Manager Michelle Tapper are in Italy during late October finalising their preparations for the Winter Games which begin in Turin in February. FORMER NZOC SECRETARY GENERAL DIES SUDDENLY: Former New Zealand Olympic Committee Secretary General, Fred Smith, died suddenly at his home in England in early October. Fred, who was Secretary General of the NZOC between 1990 - 1991, was 59. Since Fred left the NZOC, he established Strategic Leisure which did recreational planning work for the Hillary Commission and local authorities. Fred left New Zealand to go to the Queensland Sports and Recreation Department for a few years and then to Hong Kong University where he lectured in sport and recreation management. Just last year Fred and his wife Rosemary headed back to the UK where Fred was the Course Director for the Sport Programme at the University of West England. COLLEEN MILLS PASSES AWAY: Following the news of the sudden death of Fred Smith came the sad news that Colleen Mills had passed away. Colleen was a highly accomplished athlete representing New Zealand at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. Colleen was the wife of Olympian Les Mills and mother of another two top track and field athletes, Phillip and Donna. Les, of course, was Chef de Mission of the 1998 Commonwealth Games team to Kuala Lumpur and the Olympic team in Sydney in 2000. FOUNDING DAY: The NZOC celebrated its 94th birthday on October 18 when it hosted its annual Founding Day celebration in Wellington. The function was held at the City Gallery in Civic Square and included cultural presentations and addresses from members sports and New Zealand Olympic Order holders. FAUMUINA GAINS GLOBAL APPOINTMENT: Athens Olympic Games flagbearer Beatrice Faumuina has been appointed a goodwill ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. The 1997 world discus champion is honoured to have been asked to assist the Organisation in its effort to defeat hunger in developed and developing countries.Faumuina, who is on the International Association of Athletics Federations athletes commission, was recommended for the position by the IAAF. "It is a first for New Zealand and a first for Oceania. I am really honoured and it caps a great year for me," added Faumuina. In June Faumuina received the ONZM for services to athletics. OLYMPIC FOUNDATION: The Board of the NZOC have confirmed the initial trustees of the newly estalished Olympic Foundation. The trustees are Sir Roy McKenzie, settlor; Eion Edgar, Board Chair; Mark Weldon, Board; Barbara Kendall, Board; Peter Masfen; David Appleby. OLYMPIANS CLUB: The NZOC Board has endorsed the need to formally recognise those athletes selected for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, who were denied the opportunity to compete for reasons beyond their control. Although they cannot be Olympians as such they will be identified on the NZOC website, and a letter of acknowledgement will be sent to each of them. COMMONWEALTH GAMES DRAWS: In recent days the draws have been made for the Commonwealth Games hockey competition and Rugby Sevens in Melbourne in March next year. You can check out both those draws at www.melbourne2006.com.au
		Let me know if you have any information you'd like included in the newsletter. You can contact me at gordon@olympic.org.nz