The NZ Club has opened its doors to family, friends and supporters of the NZ Youth Olympic Games team with a function being held at the Nutria Dairy function centre in Nanjing.
More than 60 friends and family traveled over from New Zealand and abroad to see their athletes in action. It will be 10 days of competition for the 50 Kiwi athletes.
New Zealand Olympic Committee Secretary-General, Kereyn Smith, spoke to the audience, highlighting the significance of these Games.
Part of what happens here in Nanjing, its about the sport but its also about how they participate, she said, before continuing to thank the Nutria Dairy and the supporters for investing in the New Zealand Youth Olympic team.
Traditional Chinese dancers as well as a slideshow of images of athletes from within the Village entertained supporters throughout the evening, while a buffet of New Zealand and Chinese food was on offer.
Present at the function was IOC sports nutritionist and kiwi Jenna Ballam. During the Games, Ballam is running a healthy cooking workshop in the village and talking athletes through how to make a meal as part of the Culture and Education Program.
Seven kiwis came through this morning and it was really cool because a lot of them have never cooked for themselves before, she said.
Ballams appointment to the position came after she earned an IOC Sports Nutrition Diploma and was approached by CEP organisers.
It was so unexpected, but its probably the best thing thats happened to me, said Ballam.
The function was also an opportunity for supporters to hear about Village life and to learn about the different sports that our Kiwi athletes are competing in.
Grahm Kehely is in Nanjing to support his granddaughter and 5-a-side hockey player Kehely said that this is the 5th generation to play hockey, but the first to play the shorter, faster 5-a-side.
I would have loved to play this sort of hockey, said Kehely while sitting in The NZ Club. Its the first time Ive seen it.
The NZ Cub will be open throughout the Games and will provide a venue for supporters to gather and share the days competition results.