Rugby: Sevens on menu at NZOC dinner

Prime Minister John Key and Dr Jacques Rogge. File photo / Mark Mitchell

There is an eye on the future tonight when the New Zealand Olympic Committee celebrates its centenary in Auckland.

A centrepiece of the celebrations, being attended by International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, are demonstration games of sevens rugby.

Both the games and the gala dinner will be at College Rifles club and grounds in Remuera.

The significance is the acceptance of sevens on to the Olympic programme for the Rio de Janeiro Games of 2016, and the importance of rugby on New Zealand's sporting landscape.

The NZOC, originally known as the Olympic Council of New Zealand, was established on October 18, 1911.

A New Zealander, Leonard Cuff, was one of 13 signatories to the founding of the IOC in 1894. Barry Maister, a member of the 1976 gold medal-winning hockey team in Montreal, became the 11th New Zealander elected to the organisation last year.

"For a small country, New Zealand's record is impressive," Rogge said.

"Barry Maister and [1992 gold medal-winning board sailor] Barbara Kendall are valuable IOC members and active ambassadors of the Olympic values in their country and at Olympic events."

NZOC president Mike Stanley said New Zealand's Olympic success helped define the nation.

"The Olympic movement is one of the most compelling and powerful in the world and we are proud to be part of it," he said.

He pointed out that in addition to the introduction of sevens on to the summer Games programme, the addition of freeski slopestyle and halfpipe for the Sochi Winter Games in 2014 would "open doors to adrenalin-hungry Kiwi winter athletes".

Among other guests at tonight's dinner are New Zealand's 1996 double Olympic swimming champion Danyon Loader, International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset and former England and Lions coach - now British Olympic Association official - Sir Clive Woodward.