Commonwealth Games: Most Kiwis to march in opening ceremony

The New Zealand delegation during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics .Photo / Getty Images

About two-thirds of New Zealand's contingent of athletes and officials are expected to march in the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in New Delhi tomorrow night.

Chef de mission Dave Currie said final numbers would be confirmed tomorrow afternoon, but predicted that about 190 of the 290-plus New Zealand team would be in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

He said the decision over participation would be up to individual sports and athletes.

The women's hockey team, who are due to open their campaign against Wales the following morning, have decided to miss the ceremony.

Swimmers in action on the first morning of competition are also unlikely to take part.

The New Zealander flag bearer is due to be named tonight, with Currie saying the person was informed of the choice on his or her arrival in the village this week.

The reaction from the appointee was one of delight, he said.

"It was just a lovely moment when somebody realises that, 'Hey, this honour is going to be bestowed on me' and there was genuine, surprise, honour and just sheer joy," he said.

"It was just lovely to be there and share it."

Currie said among the criteria for selection was that person was someone who had been involved in a number of Commonwealth Games and had performed well in them.

The athlete also had to display the characteristics sought in the New Zealand team of grit, determination and a willingness "to crawl over broken glass to do what you have to do and never give up", and have leadership qualities.

"I think when it is announced tonight, there will be some excitement."

Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand will be among those at the function.

Currie said most of the 191 New Zealand competitors entered in the Games had arrived in the village.

Those still to come were the sevens rugby team, who are due in next Wednesday, and three track and field athletes, including shot putter Valerie Adams and 1500m runner Nick Willis, both defending Commonwealth titles.

Currie added that those in the village had settled in well.

"What we've been really encouraged about is that they were excited to come , they're pleased to be here, they're looking forward to the competition," he said.

"There's a real buzz of excitement around."

The lead-up to the Games included an outbreak of dengue fever in the Indian capital, but Currie, said there had been no reports of any illnesses among the New Zealand contingent.

"I've been here nearly three weeks and, touch wood, we've all been extraordinary good, " he said.

"From 'Delhi belly' to the whole dengue mosquito thing, which was a concern, we appear not to have had a problem there."

A chefs de mission meeting today was told that more than 6000 people had checked into the village, putting it at close to capacity, and Currie said things thus far seemed to be working well.

One issue the New Zealand athletes had been cautioned against was going out on to the balconies of their apartments.

Currie said there were no concerns over construction, but it was more a case of being extra careful.

"They're tiny balconies and we're just being ultra-cautious,' he said.

"We would rather people didn't get out there, as we don't want them to go in the basement or whatever. We just don't want them to take any risks, really."

- NZPA