Shane Smeltz. Photo / Getty Images.
The NZOC set out their stall when they approved the nominations of the women's basketball and hockey teams.
Many scorn football's qualification process - something set by Fifa - but in the case of the Tall Ferns, they merely had to beat Fiji. In Dunedin. In winter.
Although
the Black Sticks defeated Australia in a one-off, their form of late is starting to rival that of the Knights. To deny the footballers would, therefore, be unjust.
There are also a number of ramifications that could await New Zealand Football should their teams be barred from Beijing.
There's an organisation in Zurich which is wealthier and more powerful than many countries and they will not take kindly to New Zealand, or Oceania, if they don't go.
At one time, Oceania received direct entry to all world tournaments. Fifa made changes to World Cup and Club World Cup qualification and there's considerable pressure for Oceania's entitlement to be reduced further without the NZOC giving them more ammunition. Once lost, direct entry will be gone forever.
And what would Fifa do if New Zealand pulled out? Call up Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands and hope for the best?
Herr Blatter would also take a dim view, given Fifa are pouring US$10 million into New Zealand's hosting of this year's under-17 Women's World Cup and fund development programmes in the region.
It's not inconceivable the women could make the last eight in a 12-team competition, especially if drawn in the same group as Argentina, thumped 11-0 by Germany at last year's World Cup.
The under-23s face a more difficult proposition but they will be bolstered by three over-age players. Twelve months ago, Ryan Nelsen, Chris Killen, Shane Smeltz, Tony Lochhead, Tim Brown, Glen Moss, Mark Paston and Jeremy Christie all signed letters of interest.
It seems unlikely that Nelsen will play but the likes of Killen and Smeltz would make a big difference, along with under-23 players Jack Pelter and Chris James, who both missed qualifying.
