233 athletes are set to represent New Zealand at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, but it’s a group you won’t see on your TV screens that will be instrumental to the success of the New Zealand Team.
The team support contingent is made up of coaches, strength and conditioning trainers, physios, operations managers, uniform providers, doctors, sports psychologists and many more.
The team does much of the heavy lifting behind the scenes, ensuring everything runs smoothly for the athletes, who can focus fully on competition.
“The team support contingent is vital to ensuring athletes are looked after and are in the best possible space when it comes to competition time,” said Chef de Mission Nigel Avery.
The advance team arrived in Birmingham last week and have been setting up the village spaces with athlete arrivals beginning on July 22nd.
“It’s really important to us that our athletes feel comfortable and supported from the moment they arrive,” added Avery.
“We dress the village in NZ Team posters and hangings, we have information to provide to them, we give them a cultural welcome and ensure they have everything they need to make their stay comfortable and performance focussed, and that includes some home treats, pineapple lumps and good coffee is a must.”
With the team spread over four villages in Birmingham the setup process has required more logistics than previous campaigns.
“The team behind the team will be spread across the villages,” said Avery.
“It is different to most previous campaigns, but we’re committed to providing a great experience for all our athletes. We can’t wait to take to the field of play and make New Zealand proud.”
Birmingham 2022 will begin on July 28th and run to August 8th.