New Zealand Olympic Committee
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand Olympic Committee (before 1994, The New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association) is the body in New Zealand
responsible for selecting athletes to represent New Zealand in the Summer and Winter Olympic
and the Commonwealth
Games.
While a founder member of the International Olympic Committee
, New Zealand did not send its own team to compete until the Games of the VI Olympiad (Antwerp 1920
), though at the 1908
and 1912
Summer Olympics New Zealand and Australia competed as "Australasia". New Zealand has sent a team to every Summer Olympic Games since 1920, though only a token team of four went to the 1980 Summer Olympics
at Moscow. New Zealand first competed at the Winter Olympics in 1952
, but did not compete in the 1956
or 1964
Winter Olympics.
New Zealand has sent a team to every Commonwealth Games since the first in 1930, which was held in Canada and then called the British Empire Games
. They are held every four years, in between the Olympic Games.
and the Commonwealth Games Federation.
1980
, in which observers thought that the fern was an olive branch of peace)—New Zealand competed under this flag to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. It went to its current colored version in 1994.
for New Zealand. The NZOC was founded in 1911 and recognized by the IOC in 1919. Former New Zealand members of the International Olympic Committee are:
Current Internationa Olympic Committe members are:
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
responsible for selecting athletes to represent New Zealand in the Summer and Winter Olympic
New Zealand at the Olympics
New Zealand first participated at the Olympic Games in 1908, and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then. For their first two Games in 1908 and 1912, New Zealand competed with Australia in a combined Australasia team...
and the Commonwealth
New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games
Since the first in 1930, New Zealand has competed in all 19 editions of the Commonwealth Games and has won a total of 564 medals including 130 gold....
Games.
While a founder member of the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
, New Zealand did not send its own team to compete until the Games of the VI Olympiad (Antwerp 1920
New Zealand at the 1920 Summer Olympics
New Zealand competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. It was the first time that the nation had competed independently at the Olympic Games...
), though at the 1908
Australasia at the 1908 Summer Olympics
Australasia was the name of a combined team from Australia and New Zealand that competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, England. It was the fourth appearance of Australia, which had not missed any edition of the Summer Olympic Games, and the first appearance of New Zealand...
and 1912
Australasia at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Australasia was the name of a combined team at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, consisting of 26 athletes from Australia and New Zealand...
Summer Olympics New Zealand and Australia competed as "Australasia". New Zealand has sent a team to every Summer Olympic Games since 1920, though only a token team of four went to the 1980 Summer Olympics
New Zealand at the 1980 Summer Olympics
New Zealand did not officially participate in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, USSR as the government of that time supported the US-led boycott. Four New Zealand athletes competed as independents under the banner of the NZOCGA.-Canoeing:...
at Moscow. New Zealand first competed at the Winter Olympics in 1952
New Zealand at the 1952 Winter Olympics
New Zealand competed at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway. It was the first time that the nation had competed at the Winter Olympic Games. The country was represented by its skiing team, captained by Sir Roy McKenzie...
, but did not compete in the 1956
1956 Winter Olympics
The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This celebration of the Games was held from 26 January to 5 February 1956. Cortina, which had originally been awarded the 1944 Winter Olympics, beat out...
or 1964
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
Winter Olympics.
New Zealand has sent a team to every Commonwealth Games since the first in 1930, which was held in Canada and then called the British Empire Games
1930 British Empire Games
The 1930 British Empire Games were the first of what later become known as the Commonwealth Games, and were held in Hamilton, in the province of Ontario in Canada from August 16–23, 1930....
. They are held every four years, in between the Olympic Games.
Membership
The NZOC (New Zealand Olympic Committee) is a member of the International Olympic CommitteeInternational Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
and the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Emblem
The NZOC emblem consisting of a depiction of a silver fern (New Zealand's sporting emblem) superimposed on the Olympic Rings was created as a marketing symbol in 1979 (which was initially in all-white on a black background). It was first publicly used at an Olympic Games at the Games of the XXII Olympiad (MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
1980
New Zealand at the 1980 Summer Olympics
New Zealand did not officially participate in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, USSR as the government of that time supported the US-led boycott. Four New Zealand athletes competed as independents under the banner of the NZOCGA.-Canoeing:...
, in which observers thought that the fern was an olive branch of peace)—New Zealand competed under this flag to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. It went to its current colored version in 1994.
International Olympic Committee
The NZOC (New Zealand Olympic Committee) is the National Olympic CommitteeNational Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committees are the national constituents of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, they are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games...
for New Zealand. The NZOC was founded in 1911 and recognized by the IOC in 1919. Former New Zealand members of the International Olympic Committee are:
- Leonard CuffLeonard CuffLeonard Albert Cuff was a sportsman and sports administrator from New Zealand...
(1894-1905), 1st, one of the founding members (also Australia) - Richard CoombesRichard CoombesRichard Coombes was journalist and father of amateur athletics in Australia.Coombes was born at Hampton Court, Middlesex, England the son of Richard Coombes, hotelkeeper, and his wife Ellen, née Parsons. Coombes was educated at Hampton Grammar School, he was for some years in an insurance office,...
2nd (1912-1919) (also Australia) - Arthur A. MarryattArthur A. MarryattArthur Albert Marryatt was a New Zealand sports administrator, who represented New Zealand on the International Olympic Committee from 1919 to 1923, when he was replaced by Joseph Firth....
3rd (1919-1923) - Joseph FirthJoseph FirthJoseph "Pentland" Firth CMG was a New Zealand educationalist and teacher. Known as The Boss, he was the headmaster of Wellington College from 1892 to 1920...
4th (1923-1927) - Sir Bernard Freyberg 5th (1928-1930)
- Cecil J. WrayCecil J. WrayCecil James Wray was a New Zealand sports administrator, resident in England from 1913. He represented New Zealand on the International Olympic Committee from 1931 to 1934, and was on the Rugby Football Union in England for 25 years....
6th (1931-1934) - Sir Arthur Porritt 7th (1934-1967)
- Sir Lance CrossLance CrossSir Cecil Lancelot Stewart "Lance" Cross was the eighth member of the International Olympic Committee from New Zealand, from 1969 to 1987....
8th (1969-1987) - Tay WilsonTay WilsonSir Tennant Edward "Tay" Wilson, KNZM, OBE was the ninth member of the International Olympic Committee from New Zealand, from 1988 to 2006, and is now an honorary member....
9th (1988-2006) - Barbara KendallBarbara KendallBarbara Kendall, MBE is a boardsailor from New Zealand. Kendall was raised at Bucklands Beach and attended Macleans College...
10th (Oceania athletes' representative from 2005 to 2008)
Current Internationa Olympic Committe members are:
- Barry MaisterBarry MaisterBarry John Maister is a former field hockey player from New Zealand, who was a member of the national team that won the gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.-References:*...
(2010-present) - Barbara KendallBarbara KendallBarbara Kendall, MBE is a boardsailor from New Zealand. Kendall was raised at Bucklands Beach and attended Macleans College...
(2011-present)
External links
- New Zealand Olympic Committee website
- New Zealand Olympic Team website for London 2012 Summer Olympic Games
See also
- Paralympics New ZealandParalympics New ZealandParalympics New Zealand is the National Paralympic Committee in New Zealand for the Paralympic Games movement. It oversees the means by which New Zealand participates at the Summer Paralympics and the Winter Paralympics.-External links:...
- International Olympic Committee members in New Zealand
- New Zealand at the OlympicsNew Zealand at the OlympicsNew Zealand first participated at the Olympic Games in 1908, and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then. For their first two Games in 1908 and 1912, New Zealand competed with Australia in a combined Australasia team...
- New Zealand at the ParalympicsNew Zealand at the ParalympicsNew Zealand has sent delegations to the Summer Paralympics since 1968, and to the Winter Paralympics since 1980, .The Paralympic Games are a multi-sport event for athletes with physical and sensorial disabilities. This includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and...
- New Zealand Olympic medallistsNew Zealand Olympic medallistsNew Zealand Olympic medallists have achieved considerable sporting success for New Zealand, often considered to be particularly notable due to the relatively small population of the country . Being located in the remote South Pacific, New Zealanders needed to endure long sea voyages to attend the...