Today the New Zealand Olympic Committee celebrates its Centenary and a proud Olympic history. Its a history that spans the birth of the modern Olympic Movement, the great depression, two world wars and sweeping political and social change. Visionary men and women have shaped our history and created an Olympic Committee today that is proud to have sent more than 1000 New Zealand athletes to Olympic Games.
The New Zealand Olympic Committee is also seen as a credible partner in the international Olympic Movement. We were a founding member of this outstanding movement, adding our signature to the founding documents in 1894. The New Zealand Olympic Committee itself was inaugurated one hundred years ago, on 18 October 1911.
Jack Lovelock, Arthur Porritt, Yvette Williams, Sir Murray Halberg, Sir Peter Snell, Mark Todd, Rob Waddell and Valerie Adams feature on New Zealands Olympic Role of Honour.
Olympic programmes, including Women in Sport and ASB Olympic Schools, are designed to bring the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect to life and feature strongly in the important work we do.
Today, the New Zealand Olympic Committee continues a tradition of meticulous games time planning and delivery and combines it with programmes designed to open doors to New Zealand sport, business and government through powerful Olympic connections. While tug-of-war and poetry reading are no longer part of the Olympic Programme, strong Kiwi sports including Rowing, Cycling, Athletics, Equestrian, Athletics and Sailing are. From 2014 two new sports will deliver additional opportunities to inspire at Olympic Games. Freeski slopestyle and half pipe will feature on the Olympic Winter Programme and Rugby Sevens will be a favourite at the summer Olympic Games at Rio 2016.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank those men and women who have played a role in the New Zealand Olympic Committee men and women who have helped send our New Zealand athletes to Olympic Games.
You, too, are a valuable member of our proud Olympic family and we look forward to sharing the next 100 years with you.