NZOC names Rio 2016 selection panel

The New Zealand Olympic Committee has named a new selection committee for the 2016 Rio Games.

The committee will be headed by Simon Wickham, who was a selector for the Beijing and London Olympics.

He will be joined by Commonwealth Games bronze medallist lawn bowler Mike Kernaghan and existing board member Tony Hall.

They will select athletes for the Winter Olympics in Sochi and Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year, as well as the Rio Games.

The new appointees replace committee president Mike Stanley, secretary general Kereyn Smith and board member Rosemary Nye.

"The members of the 2016 selection panel have significant experience in high performance sport and an in-depth understanding of the complexities of qualification and selection,'' Stanley said.

"We are especially pleased to welcome a non-standing board member to the panel. We know Mike will bring a considered perspective from outside the New Zealand Olympic Committee board.''