Today marks 50 days to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the New Zealand Olympic Committee says preparations are on track.
With 131 athletes already named, and around 100 athletes still in the running for selection over the coming ten days, the Glasgow team will be one of the largest New Zealand has fielded at a Commonwealth Games.
Substantial teams have already been selected for many of the sports on the 2014 programme including swimming, judo, boxing, lawn bowls, athletics and track cycling. Gymnastics, table tennis and weightlifting, as well as teams for netball, hockey and rugby sevens, are still to be confirmed with all athletes named by mid-June.
Glasgow 2014 Chef de Mission Rob Waddell is delighted so many athletes are meeting the top six selection criteria but says the team will certainly be operating at capacity. Well be full, and well be busy, said the Chef who has consistently praised preparations for the Glasgow Games.
Well have athletes competing in every sport on the programme with multiple events every day. Were ready for it and I am delighted so many athletes have been able to up their game to meet selection criteria.
Our focus has been on absolute attention to detail and were confident our planning and operational delivery is ready to ensure our athletes can achieve their goals. We also believe the Glasgow team will host an excellent games with venues and infrastructure ready to go and a positive buzz already apparent in the host city.
Waddell has completed two site visits and is scheduled to arrive in Glasgow in early July to ensure logistics and operational planning is on track ahead of the Games opening on 23rd July.
While there is no official medal target for the Commonwealth Games, Waddell said that he believes reaching the number of medals won in Delhi will be tough but achievable. If can do as well as we did in Delhi and bring home around 36 medals well have proved ourselves against some world-class competition, he said.
With significant increases in funding for sport in the United Kingdom over the past four years combined with the home-games advantage, competition from the British teams in particular will be tough. Were up against Olympic and World Champions from the rest of the Commonwealth, too.
The Commonwealth Games take place in Glasgow, Scotland from 23 July - 3 August 2014.