Olympics: Huge boost for NZ team

By Suzanne McFadden

At least $10 million will be poured into New Zealand's 2000 Olympic athletes in the next two months, with a creamy top-up before the end of the year.

The New Zealand Sports Foundation aims to raise $20 million in 1999 - easily the biggest handout in this country's sporting history - influenced by the Sydney Olympics.

In past years, the foundation's largest annual contribution to sport was $14 million.

Its coffers were boosted yesterday by a $1.6 million grant from the New Zealand Olympic Committee. In three weeks, the foundation will meet to decide how to dish out the $15 million it has so far.

Chief executive Chris Ineson said that $10 million could go to the Olympic programme.

"It's a once in a lifetime chance for New Zealand, having the Olympics so close to home," he said. "We're committed to making this our most successful Olympic team ever."

About $4 million will go to national academy programmes, with the balance being used for non-Olympic sports which have world championships in 2000 - like women's cricket, rugby league and men's softball. The foundation will now go all-out to find another $5 million in the next six months.

"If we can get this, we'll have another round of funding in November," Ineson said.

"If there is any money left over, we'll distribute it in March next year.

"We're not asking for handouts from the corporate world. We're putting a very good case as to why the next 15 months are so important to New Zealand."

The high performance funding committee will meet next month to determine who will receive the first major round of grants. Those sports will be advised in early July.

The foundation has already made it clear that the majority of funds set aside for the Olympics will go to the sports who have a strong chance of bringing home medals.

As a contributor to funding, the New Zealand Olympic Committee will have a say in whose hands its money ends up. It is well represented on the funding committee.

NZOC president Sir David Beattie said the $1.6 million was raised through sponsorship and grants from the International Olympic Committee.

"They are our own funds - a lot of people are under the misconception that we get public or government money, but we don't," he said.

"It's not easy. But we want to send a message to our athletes that we are serious about giving them everything we can to make the Sydney Olympics a huge success for New Zealand."