Games chef de mission role open to allcomers

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Determined to shake off the shackles of secrecy that surrounded Les Mills' appointment as chef de mission on past Commonwealth and Olympics teams, the New Zealand Olympic Committee has advertised the role for the next two Games.

"It will be a transparent process for sure," new chief executive Barry Maister said.

"We want to make the appointment for Manchester and Athens openly.

"But I don't think too many will be putting their hands up for such a tough job which does not pay."

There was much criticism when the then New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association president, Sir David Beattie, appointed Mills for the Kuala Lumpur and Sydney events without calling for nominations or putting it to a ballot.

"We are happy to go along with the dual-appointment because we think in terms of an Olympiad which covers the four years from one Games to the next," Maister said.

"The winter Olympics are, however, not part of that because Geoff Balme has already been appointed [again] to take the expected 12 to 15-strong team to next year's Games in Salt Lake City."

Until the chef de mission is appointed - and Maister hopes that will be at the NZOC board meeting on April 24 - other positions will not be filled.

"We are going to start at the top and work down," he said.

"The chef de mission will be involved in other appointments, including the medical staff."

Association staff member Richard de Groen will again be assistant chef de mission - virtually the team manager - with longstanding assistant manager Tony Popplewell again available for that all-important role.

With men's and women's hockey teams likely for Manchester, Maister expects a team of about 215 athletes and 105 officials - the biggest to compete overseas.

"It is likely to cost about $2.2 million.

"Simply, if that number is selected we have to find the dough to send them," Maister said.

"The standards [criteria] are being finalised now.

"We are still working with former Games selector Bruce Cameron in determining those.

"They then go out to the sports for comment before being ratified by the board."

As well as a likely 40-strong contingent of hockey players, Maister said the biggest numbers would compete in cycling (up to 37 in track, road and mountainbiking), aquatics (up to 30, including disabled events), shooting (up to 22), track and field (about 25), netball (16), badminton (13), lawn bowls (14) and rugby sevens (12).

As many as 10 New Zealanders are expected to compete in events for disabled competitors in lawns bowls, weightlifting, swimming, track and field and table tennis.

Maister met New Zealand Sports Foundation bosses last week and will meet officials from the Hillary Commission next week as the build-up to the Manchester Games, from July 22 to August 4 next year, gains momentum.