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The first batch of NZ Team athletes, coaches and support staff welcomed to the NZ Team
The first batch of NZ Team athletes, coaches and support staff have arrived in Livigno, Italy for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
The group were welcomed to the Olympic Village with the haka of the NZ Team, Pou Tangata, before they were presented with a special taonga - their ‘Manawaroa’ pounamu.
Men’s Snowboard Big Air athlete, Lyon Farrell, said the welcome gave him goosebumps.
“Having the haka performed for us was amazing, my heart was pumping out my chest. There was a lot of mana in the room, it was pretty special.”
“This is the start for us, of course you’ve got the opening ceremonies coming up, but as a team it feels like we’ve started now,” he said.
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Men’s Snowboard Big Air athlete, Lyon Farrell, spoke on behalf of the Snowboarders
NZ Team Chef de Mission, Marty Toomey said it was an honour to welcome the first group.
“It’s awesome, the Games get real when the athletes come in. We’ve spent a bit of time getting ready, so now it’s go time.”
“For us it’s about setting everything up, ‘kiwifying’ it a bit - posters, reminders of home, uniform on the bed. We want the athletes to come in, get their uniform on and start getting ready to go.”
Toomey also made note of the special pounamu presentation.
“It’s always a special time when the athletes receive their pounamu, but this was especially poignant given the athletes were part of the design process,” he said.
Meanwhile as Farrell prepares for his first Olympic Winter Games, he said the scale of the event is starting to dawn on him.
“I don’t think the whole scope of the Olympics has really settled in yet, it’s bigger than I could have ever imagined. There’s a lot of security, but there’s a lot of support too,” he said
“We showed up and the weather was perfect, blue skies, fresh snow and the course is looking incredible - it feels unique and special.”