Today marks one year to the rescheduled Tokyo Olympic Games and New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Kereyn Smith says they are fully committed to the path ahead.

The Olympic Games were postponed just four months ago and now, with 365 days until the new opening ceremony date, New Zealand Olympic sport is facing both an incredible challenge, and an opportunity.

“Next year, we have the opportunity to take part in an Olympic Games that celebrates the world’s resilience and the unifying power of sport,” Smith says.

“But we must not underestimate the task at hand. We are part of the reorganisation of the world’s most complex event taking place amidst global uncertainty.

“We know, however, just how much the Olympic Games mean to New Zealand athletes and all of New Zealand, and for that reason, we are 100 per cent focused on our team’s preparation, planning and delivery.”

Smith says the Tokyo 2020 competition schedule and venues have been reconfirmed this month which is a significant step forward.

“The basic framework of the revised Olympic Games has been confirmed. The next step is for the Olympic Games joint task force to move forward with Covid-19 counter-measures which will impact the New Zealand team environment next year.”

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Joint task force comprises International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo Organising Committee leaders and is informed by a partnership with the World Health Organisation, along with other international and Japanese agencies.

While organisers work to predict and plan for an uncertain world, athletes too are facing unprecedented times.

New Zealand Chef de Mission to Tokyo Rob Waddell says not only does today mark one year to go to the Olympic Games, but it also marks the eve of the original 2020 games. 

“Today, in Tokyo, we would have been coming together as the New Zealand team at the traditional team function. We would have been ready to march in the opening ceremony that would have been about to take place."

He says each athlete will have had their own perspective on the rescheduled Games. 

“These coming weeks mark moments in time that had been years in the making. Some may be feeling a sense of loss, others have been forced to delay life plans,” he says. 

“Others, however, have been given an invaluable opportunity to grow stronger or recover from injury. It is a real time of reflection and we’re ready to do our utmost to ensure they are in the best position possible this time next year.”

New Zealand Football will be represented in Tokyo by two teams, the Football Ferns and the men’s U-23 national team. 

Article added: Thursday 23 July 2020