September 16, 2024 • 18 mins
Scotland's government is on the cusp of agreeing for Glasgow to host a scaled-down 2026 Commonwealth Games; NZ Olympic Committee CEO Nicki Nicol joins Piney to discuss what this means for our top athletes.
Elijah Fa'afiu pops into The Chamber to discuss the Black Ferns' loss to England, the NRL finals and Tasman's successful defence of the Ranfurly Shield.
And all the big sports stories from around the world today!
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks dB. Hello and
welcome to a new weekend.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
To a fresh episode of the Sports Fixed podcast for Monday,
September sixteen.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
I'm Jason Pine. Great to have you listening in.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
It sounds as though we will have a Commonwealth Games
in twenty twenty six. It'll be scaled back a little bit,
but by the sounds of things, Glasgow is ready to
step up to the plate and that's the right terminology
and host the twenty twenty six Commonwealth Games.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
How do New Zealand feel about this?
Speaker 3 (00:47):
The New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Nicky Nickel is on
the podcast today.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
I've got a few thoughts as well. Joined in the
chamber by Elijah feel as well.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
To look back on the weekend's sporting action and all
the big stories floating around today.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
So let's get into it.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
In other news, checking out some of the big sports
stories going around today, Shane Van Gisburg and to let
a second Korean NASCAR victory slip through his fingers. He's
been runner up to Chris Busher at the Watkins Glen's Circuit.
The deciding moment coming in overtime with an extra two
laps tagged on.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
It says your question. I'm still with motorsport.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
The Azerbaijean Grand Prix, second Formula One victory of the
season for Oscar Pastree.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
The Oscar goes to the top step of the podium.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Oscar Piastre wins the Azerbaijean Grand Prix and Fortball's Premier
League Arsenal have beaten Tottenham one nill in the North
London Derby. Spurs manager and Posta conglu ruing a solitary
lapse in concentration from his team.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Failed well for the most Parkers who stopped for one
and they pay a price, and that's what happens. I said,
It's always going to be a tight game. Five margins
in these kind of games, and you know they took
their came home and we didn't use anavenion.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
It's Sportsfix with Jason Lyne.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
The Commonwealth Games have certainly struggled for relevance in recent times.
Melbourne renegging on hosting in twenty twenty six was the
best indicator yet that cities are finding it harder to
justify investing the teams of millions of dollars needed to host,
which is almost impossible to recoup, and are then left
with bright, shiny, purpose built venues which are hardly ever
(02:34):
used once the Games are over.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Now, Glasgow's very courageous.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Decision to pick up hosting rights for twenty twenty six,
albeit in a scale down capacity, means the Games are
saved for now.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
More on that in the moment.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
As yet, there are no bids for twenty thirty or beyond,
so work needs to be done to ensure that the
Games survive, because it is important that they do survive. Yes,
they're not the Olympics, they're not as important, but they
are important. For one, they provide a stepping stone to
pinnacle events like World Championships and in particular the Olympic Games.
(03:07):
Athletes get the chance to have the game's experience and
everything that goes with it, living in the village, transport,
being part of the team, media requirements, all that stuff.
Many then go on to represent their country at the
Olympic Games, and I would imagine the chance to spend
time in a similar, less pressured environment would be very
helpful once they get there. But of course also for
(03:28):
some athletes, the Commonwealth Games is a pinnacle event. It's
their career highlights, a chance to proudly wear the silver
fern and stand on the podium if they're good enough.
And the Games down the years have given us some
iconic sporting moments. Tick Taylor's ten thousand meter gold in
nineteen seventy four in christ Church nearlie Fairhall, winning archery
(03:50):
gold from her wheelchair in nineteen eighty two, Nikki Jenkins,
the teenage gymnast who captured our hearts in nineteen ninety weightliftered,
David Letti lighting up the Gold coast in twenty eighteen,
Aaron Gate four gold medals a couple of years ago
in Birmingham. Shooter Greg Yealovich He's got twelve Commonwealth Games medals.
(04:10):
Track cyclist Gary Anderson, Daniel Loder and Lewis Clairbert and
the pol Joel King on the squash court and many
many more. Yes, I repeat, they are not the Olympics,
but they don't pretend to be. They are what they
are and they are important.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Dissecting the sporting agenda, it's SPORTSFX with Jason Vine.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
On the Sports Fix podcast Well, Scotland's government on the
cusp of agreeing for Glasgow to host the twenty twenty
six Commonwealth Games. Officials are going to meet Commonwealth Games
Australia counterparts tonight and talks about the future of the
multi sport event. The Australian body offering a multimillion dollar
investment which is a missing piece in the funding puzzle
to help counter the Victorian state withdrawal as host last year.
(04:56):
Glasgow of course hosted the Commonwealth Games in twenty fourteen.
It's a pleasure to welcome in CEO and Secretary General
of the New Zealand Olympic Committee Nicky Nickel. Nikki, this
feels like positive progress. You'll optimistic the Games will go
ahead in Glasgow in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
Thanks Jason. Yes, I am really optimistic and I know
how hard Commonworth Games Scotland have been working on this proposal,
and you know, certainly for us on the disappointment of Victoria,
we're really excited that we can get the games away
for our athletes.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
How keen are the NSC to see the Commonwealth Games
go ahead? Just how important are they to you and
to your athletes?
Speaker 5 (05:35):
Yeah, they're really important. And you know, certainly Commonwealth Games
are important as because we only really have two major
multi sport events Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. So from
a performance perspective for the athletes, Commonwealth Games is really important.
To some sports. The Commonwealth Games is also really important
because that is one of their pinnicle events, So think
of netball, law and bowls and for others. You know,
(05:58):
for us, there's also lots of other reasons, such as
if you think of when we have a team of
over two hundred at the Commonwealth or Olympics, we need
doctors for the ohs. All these resources have to build
their capability. So what we also use the Commonoff Games
for is actually building some of that talent and capability,
so we help people who are ready to how passed
when it comes to Olympics.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
As far as the Olympic Games are concerned for the athletes,
how important can our Commonwealth Games be as a stepping
stone to competing at an Olympic Games?
Speaker 5 (06:30):
Really important and certainly we do know that some sports
are more competitive than others. But what we found and
I looked at the numbers from Paris obviously still living
in the glow of the Paris Olympics. But sixty eight
athletes competed at both Birmingham and Paris, and sixty percent
of them achieved the top eight at the Olympics. So
(06:50):
it wasn't the only factor competing in Birmingham. But we
do know that it's a really important part of the
high performance pathway.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Yeah, what anecdotal evidence do you hear from the athletes
when they talk about having had the experience of being
in a village, being part of a big team, the
extra media requirements, the transport, the multi sport nature of
the event, What do you hair anecdotally from the athletes
in terms of how it does help them be better
prepared for in Olympics if indeed they do attend one.
Speaker 5 (07:17):
Absolutely right, all of those things that you just talked about, Jason,
are those are the sorts of things that help us
prepare athletes. Because these athletes that go to a World
Championships every year, but they're part of a small New
Zealand team who then go part of one sport Olympics,
thirty two World Championships all in one quite a different beast.
So therefore, our job as the Olympic Committee is to
(07:38):
try and assimilate an environment that the athletes can find
their way work out what they need to do so
they can be at their very best. So in blight,
the Commonwealth Games, all the Youth Olympics or Commonwealth Games
are also important in showing some of that as well.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
You mentioned netball and lawn bowls as having Commonwealth Games
as their pinnacle event, but is it also a pinnacle
event for other athletes who their sports are Olympic sports
but they might not go to the Olympics for whatever reason.
Do they still regard the Commonwealth Games as a pinnacle
event of them?
Speaker 5 (08:09):
Absolutely. I don't know about your sporting background, but mine,
you know, I didn't achieve some of the achievements that
these athletes have, and so you know, we're hugely proud
of every athlete that's selected for Commonwealth or Olympics, and
the Commonwealth Games is for some the pinnacle, but still
it's a huge achievement and it's still a very small
percentage of the population that achieve the selection requirements and
(08:32):
then go and compete with distinction for New Zealand. So yeah,
we're hugely proud of every athlete, as the athletes should
be of themselves.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
That's been reported the twenty twenty six games. Should they
get across the line, and as we say it's looking positive,
would be scaled back a bit would feature I'm reading
here somewhere between ten and thirteen sports. Perhaps there were
eighteen in Glasgow in twenty fourteen we had over twenty
sports in Birmingham. Do you have any ideaiicy how those
sports might be decided.
Speaker 5 (08:58):
We don't have that detail at this stage. What we
do know is that athletics and swimming will be included
because that is part of the criteria from the Commonwealth
Games Federation. What we all so believe is in Glasgow
and putting out or in Scotland putting up their hand
for this event, they've tried to identify sports that fit
within some of the infrastructure that they have and so
(09:19):
therefore that is what's helping keep the cost of the
games within a financial envelope. And so if you look
at the investment that has gone in from the Commonwealth
Games Federation one hundred million pounds. The rest of the
revenue is going to come from broadcast, ticket sales and sponsorship.
And really what Australia have done is they've come in
to underwrite should the costs acceed or the revenue not
(09:41):
meet the requirement. So that's what the Australia have done,
which is fantastic because that just gives more suitity to
be able to work with the respective Scottish and UK Parliament.
But essentially what the common Wealth Game Scotland they're trying
to do is by having a smaller for that and
less sports that helps keep their cost within an envelope
that therefore does not requiring government support.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
And looking further ahead, what do you foresee as the
future of the Commonwealth Game Games?
Speaker 5 (10:09):
Oh lot, We're hugely excited and I know we've all
sort of got this halo from Paris, but afore I
think back to Birmingham. Boomingham was fantastic and it was
sentistic for our athletes, it was fantastic for who we
are as a Commonwealth country. So I'm really optimistic that
we can see the full Commonwealth Games move forward. We're
really excited about what could happen. We know we've got
(10:32):
huge amount of sport coming to the Pacific over the
next decade with Los Angeles in twenty eight, Brisbane and
thirty two Rugby World Cups fief for World Cup, so
we want to make sure that we've got everything we
can to help our athletes, and Commonwealth Games is such
a critical part of that pathway.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Thanks Nikki.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
That's Nicky Nicols, Secretary General and CEO of the New
Zealand Olympic Committee. We keep our fingers crossed for positive
developments over the next forty eight hours or so. The
Commonwealth Game set to be hosted by Glasgow in twenty
twenty six.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
The Chamber is now in session on sports Fix.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
On the Sports Fix podcast is always on a Monday,
in fact, on every day, but on a Monday. The
Chamber consists of the People's Chamber, as it has been
stylistically named, featuring me and Elijah, who joins us.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Now, how was your weekend?
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Mate?
Speaker 6 (11:22):
I have I've had a rough twenty four hours, Pony,
not gonna lie. My beloved Bulldogs were pipped in the
NRL elimination final against Manley. So I've just spent the
last few four hours crying some. I'm okay now, so
as always I'm here on the podcast, so yeah, we'll.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Treat this as therapy in some way. So I did
see some social media.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
It almost almost rubbed salt into the wound, didn't it
that you had to just had to read some sports stories.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
About your beloved bulldogs. That must have been a bit tough.
Yeah it was.
Speaker 6 (11:50):
But I had it together during the Liverrary, and you know,
as us professionals do, Pioneers so and then immediately after
I read I cried so again.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
So yeah, that's all right, Well should we start there?
Speaker 3 (12:04):
It just feels to me as though we're on target
for a Storm Panther's Grand Final. I know it's only
been week one and results in those two games kind
of went to form, but it does give you an idea,
doesn't it, especially when they're playing other teams who finished
in the top four. The Panthers getting rid of the
Roosters thirty points to ten, the Storm beating the Sharks
thirty seven points to ten.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
They were just far and away better than their opponents.
We might as well just put them into the Grand
Final now, I.
Speaker 6 (12:32):
Think so, Pineer. I think there's always been the gap
between the Storm and the Panthers and everyone else, and
we saw that over the weekend. I'm interested to see
the Storm and the Panthers go at it. I mean,
the Panthers looking for four straight premierships. The Storm have
probably been the form team they're they're the mining premiers,
so I'm looking forward to that contest. And even looking
at the other teams, the Roosters have had some injuries
(12:53):
over the last few weeks, and the Sharks, you know,
didn't look too great on the weekend against the Storm,
and I don't think Manly or the Cowboys can even
compete at that level. So yeah, I'm with you, Panier.
If you're a Stormer a Panthers band, I'd probably start
with might tickets to the Grand Final.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Yeah, So Shark's Cowboys on Friday night, Roosters Sea Eagles
on Saturday. That feels like Sharks and Roosters, doesn't it?
At which point they'll ever have a crack at these
other two Titans and not the Gold Coast Tighters, but
Titans of Rugby League. It just like I say, at
the risk of repeating myself, I just feels like we're
on target for a Storm Penrith final.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
And I think if you're a neutral, that's probably what
you want, isn't it.
Speaker 6 (13:35):
It is it's the two best teams in the competition.
You want to see the best of the best go
at it. And yeah, I mean the Storm and the Panthers.
They met in the They've met in the in the
Grand Final a few years back. So yeah, as always
Storm and Panthers, looking forward to when they clash.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
All right, let's move on to Mattters closer to home
Ranfilly Shield. Yesterday. Wellington were favored by many people, including
the TAB, albeit narrowly, to go down to Blendham and
take the rand Philly Shield off Tasman after just a week.
But there's there's something pretty potent about having that shield
on the sideline. Tessaman had had a good season already anyway,
and they're now six from six. They were five from
(14:14):
five before yesterday. I must say, I mean cards on
the table. I'm a wellingtony and I wanted Wellington to
win the Shield, but I'm not absolutely entirely upset that
it's staying in Tasman. I quite like the idea that
it's in the in the Tasman top of the South
region for a bit longer.
Speaker 6 (14:30):
Yeah, I mean, you saw the scenes in that game
yesterday done in Lenham. How how much the Randfrelly Shield
means to the community and how much that game meant
to the Tasman region, and as an Aucklander, I am
ecstatic that Tasman retained it because October second, Auckland will
go down. It's a challenge Tasman for the Randfilly Shield.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Oh jeez.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
As an Aucklander, we're going to It's coming home, Piney,
That's what.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
I'm going to say.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
The very rare Wednesday nights are Randfury Shield challenge because
it's in the middle of Tasman storm week, isn't it.
So it is they if they do manage to get
past Auckland, which by the sounds of things you don't
think they will. But if they do, they've got another
challenge on the Saturday against Dartanaki, which might be quite
as stern a challenge. But I just like the fact
that you talked about the scenes and they've had it
(15:16):
right across the week and they've taken it to all
sorts of places around the region, and I think in
many ways what they've done has done that just in
case they lost it after a week, so at least
at least share it around for a bit. Now they
can take a bit of a breath. They know they've
got it until as you put at Auckland come to
town to take it on the second of October. That's
you know, two and a half weeks away or three
weeks away, so you know they can now, you know,
(15:37):
take a bit of a breath and take it round
to more schools and more rugby clubs and allow more
people to see it.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
That is what the Shield's about.
Speaker 6 (15:45):
Yeah, and that's what the Mystic Rugby in New Zealand
is about in the NPC competition. I still hold the
ran for this shield personally as the pinnacle when it
comes to New Zealand, the Mystic Rugby and the Tasman.
I mean it's great that they're making that they made
the most of their time with the shield, considering it's
their first time with the shields as a new union.
(16:07):
So yeah, I guess a bit more time with the
shield for those players, for the region and for those
players as well who have been Tasmen for so long.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Quick word on the Black Ferns going down to the
Red Roses of England at Twickenham early hours of yesterday morning.
That's two losses on the bounce. Now to England w
XP one last year this game they play them again
in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Does it feel like we're playing with a catch up
on England in women's rugby at the moment?
Speaker 5 (16:35):
To you?
Speaker 6 (16:37):
I think so, But I do think we're starting to
close the gap. I watched the game of the weekend
and we made plenty of errors, but they are eras
that the Black Friends can fix. A lot of them
were handling errors, and when you're playing a clinical team
like England, they they're able to make the most of
those opportunities and score on the other end. So I
(16:57):
do think we are still playing catch up. We lost
the Canada as well earlier in the year, if you remember, so.
I do think it's gonna be tricky coming up in
the WSV tournament. But yeah, I think we can be
optimistic about the Black fans when we're looking at the
bigger pitch in the Rugby World Cup looming next year.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
All Right, we'll get a better gauge in a couple
of weeks when WXB one rolls around New Zealand play Ireland,
then England again and then France to finish their year,
and that finishes us in the People's Chamber for today, Elijah.
I hope your week gets better after a heartbreaking weekend
for you, and I hope I can coax you back
into the chamber about the same time next Monday.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Alri is thanks finding.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news powered
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Speaker 3 (17:45):
That is all we have for you on the Sports
Fix podcast for today. Thanks for listening in. A fresh
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Speaker 2 (18:03):
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Speaker 1 (18:06):
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Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks dB. Hello and
welcome to a new weekend.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
To a fresh episode of the Sports Fixed podcast for Monday,
September sixteen.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
I'm Jason Pine. Great to have you listening in.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
It sounds as though we will have a Commonwealth Games
in twenty twenty six. It'll be scaled back a little bit,
but by the sounds of things, Glasgow is ready to
step up to the plate and that's the right terminology
and host the twenty twenty six Commonwealth Games.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
How do New Zealand feel about this?
Speaker 3 (00:47):
The New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Nicky Nickel is on
the podcast today.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
I've got a few thoughts as well. Joined in the
chamber by Elijah feel as well.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
To look back on the weekend's sporting action and all
the big stories floating around today.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
So let's get into it.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
In other news, checking out some of the big sports
stories going around today, Shane Van Gisburg and to let
a second Korean NASCAR victory slip through his fingers. He's
been runner up to Chris Busher at the Watkins Glen's Circuit.
The deciding moment coming in overtime with an extra two
laps tagged on.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
It says your question. I'm still with motorsport.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
The Azerbaijean Grand Prix, second Formula One victory of the
season for Oscar Pastree.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
The Oscar goes to the top step of the podium.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Oscar Piastre wins the Azerbaijean Grand Prix and Fortball's Premier
League Arsenal have beaten Tottenham one nill in the North
London Derby. Spurs manager and Posta conglu ruing a solitary
lapse in concentration from his team.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Failed well for the most Parkers who stopped for one
and they pay a price, and that's what happens. I said,
It's always going to be a tight game. Five margins
in these kind of games, and you know they took
their came home and we didn't use anavenion.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
It's Sportsfix with Jason Lyne.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
The Commonwealth Games have certainly struggled for relevance in recent times.
Melbourne renegging on hosting in twenty twenty six was the
best indicator yet that cities are finding it harder to
justify investing the teams of millions of dollars needed to host,
which is almost impossible to recoup, and are then left
with bright, shiny, purpose built venues which are hardly ever
(02:34):
used once the Games are over.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Now, Glasgow's very courageous.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Decision to pick up hosting rights for twenty twenty six,
albeit in a scale down capacity, means the Games are
saved for now.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
More on that in the moment.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
As yet, there are no bids for twenty thirty or beyond,
so work needs to be done to ensure that the
Games survive, because it is important that they do survive. Yes,
they're not the Olympics, they're not as important, but they
are important. For one, they provide a stepping stone to
pinnacle events like World Championships and in particular the Olympic Games.
(03:07):
Athletes get the chance to have the game's experience and
everything that goes with it, living in the village, transport,
being part of the team, media requirements, all that stuff.
Many then go on to represent their country at the
Olympic Games, and I would imagine the chance to spend
time in a similar, less pressured environment would be very
helpful once they get there. But of course also for
(03:28):
some athletes, the Commonwealth Games is a pinnacle event. It's
their career highlights, a chance to proudly wear the silver
fern and stand on the podium if they're good enough.
And the Games down the years have given us some
iconic sporting moments. Tick Taylor's ten thousand meter gold in
nineteen seventy four in christ Church nearlie Fairhall, winning archery
(03:50):
gold from her wheelchair in nineteen eighty two, Nikki Jenkins,
the teenage gymnast who captured our hearts in nineteen ninety weightliftered,
David Letti lighting up the Gold coast in twenty eighteen,
Aaron Gate four gold medals a couple of years ago
in Birmingham. Shooter Greg Yealovich He's got twelve Commonwealth Games medals.
(04:10):
Track cyclist Gary Anderson, Daniel Loder and Lewis Clairbert and
the pol Joel King on the squash court and many
many more. Yes, I repeat, they are not the Olympics,
but they don't pretend to be. They are what they
are and they are important.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Dissecting the sporting agenda, it's SPORTSFX with Jason Vine.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
On the Sports Fix podcast Well, Scotland's government on the
cusp of agreeing for Glasgow to host the twenty twenty
six Commonwealth Games. Officials are going to meet Commonwealth Games
Australia counterparts tonight and talks about the future of the
multi sport event. The Australian body offering a multimillion dollar
investment which is a missing piece in the funding puzzle
to help counter the Victorian state withdrawal as host last year.
(04:56):
Glasgow of course hosted the Commonwealth Games in twenty fourteen.
It's a pleasure to welcome in CEO and Secretary General
of the New Zealand Olympic Committee Nicky Nickel. Nikki, this
feels like positive progress. You'll optimistic the Games will go
ahead in Glasgow in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
Thanks Jason. Yes, I am really optimistic and I know
how hard Commonworth Games Scotland have been working on this proposal,
and you know, certainly for us on the disappointment of Victoria,
we're really excited that we can get the games away
for our athletes.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
How keen are the NSC to see the Commonwealth Games
go ahead? Just how important are they to you and
to your athletes?
Speaker 5 (05:35):
Yeah, they're really important. And you know, certainly Commonwealth Games
are important as because we only really have two major
multi sport events Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. So from
a performance perspective for the athletes, Commonwealth Games is really important.
To some sports. The Commonwealth Games is also really important
because that is one of their pinnicle events, So think
of netball, law and bowls and for others. You know,
(05:58):
for us, there's also lots of other reasons, such as
if you think of when we have a team of
over two hundred at the Commonwealth or Olympics, we need
doctors for the ohs. All these resources have to build
their capability. So what we also use the Commonoff Games
for is actually building some of that talent and capability,
so we help people who are ready to how passed
when it comes to Olympics.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
As far as the Olympic Games are concerned for the athletes,
how important can our Commonwealth Games be as a stepping
stone to competing at an Olympic Games?
Speaker 5 (06:30):
Really important and certainly we do know that some sports
are more competitive than others. But what we found and
I looked at the numbers from Paris obviously still living
in the glow of the Paris Olympics. But sixty eight
athletes competed at both Birmingham and Paris, and sixty percent
of them achieved the top eight at the Olympics. So
(06:50):
it wasn't the only factor competing in Birmingham. But we
do know that it's a really important part of the
high performance pathway.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Yeah, what anecdotal evidence do you hear from the athletes
when they talk about having had the experience of being
in a village, being part of a big team, the
extra media requirements, the transport, the multi sport nature of
the event, What do you hair anecdotally from the athletes
in terms of how it does help them be better
prepared for in Olympics if indeed they do attend one.
Speaker 5 (07:17):
Absolutely right, all of those things that you just talked about, Jason,
are those are the sorts of things that help us
prepare athletes. Because these athletes that go to a World
Championships every year, but they're part of a small New
Zealand team who then go part of one sport Olympics,
thirty two World Championships all in one quite a different beast.
So therefore, our job as the Olympic Committee is to
(07:38):
try and assimilate an environment that the athletes can find
their way work out what they need to do so
they can be at their very best. So in blight,
the Commonwealth Games, all the Youth Olympics or Commonwealth Games
are also important in showing some of that as well.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
You mentioned netball and lawn bowls as having Commonwealth Games
as their pinnacle event, but is it also a pinnacle
event for other athletes who their sports are Olympic sports
but they might not go to the Olympics for whatever reason.
Do they still regard the Commonwealth Games as a pinnacle
event of them?
Speaker 5 (08:09):
Absolutely. I don't know about your sporting background, but mine,
you know, I didn't achieve some of the achievements that
these athletes have, and so you know, we're hugely proud
of every athlete that's selected for Commonwealth or Olympics, and
the Commonwealth Games is for some the pinnacle, but still
it's a huge achievement and it's still a very small
percentage of the population that achieve the selection requirements and
(08:32):
then go and compete with distinction for New Zealand. So yeah,
we're hugely proud of every athlete, as the athletes should
be of themselves.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
That's been reported the twenty twenty six games. Should they
get across the line, and as we say it's looking positive,
would be scaled back a bit would feature I'm reading
here somewhere between ten and thirteen sports. Perhaps there were
eighteen in Glasgow in twenty fourteen we had over twenty
sports in Birmingham. Do you have any ideaiicy how those
sports might be decided.
Speaker 5 (08:58):
We don't have that detail at this stage. What we
do know is that athletics and swimming will be included
because that is part of the criteria from the Commonwealth
Games Federation. What we all so believe is in Glasgow
and putting out or in Scotland putting up their hand
for this event, they've tried to identify sports that fit
within some of the infrastructure that they have and so
(09:19):
therefore that is what's helping keep the cost of the
games within a financial envelope. And so if you look
at the investment that has gone in from the Commonwealth
Games Federation one hundred million pounds. The rest of the
revenue is going to come from broadcast, ticket sales and sponsorship.
And really what Australia have done is they've come in
to underwrite should the costs acceed or the revenue not
(09:41):
meet the requirement. So that's what the Australia have done,
which is fantastic because that just gives more suitity to
be able to work with the respective Scottish and UK Parliament.
But essentially what the common Wealth Game Scotland they're trying
to do is by having a smaller for that and
less sports that helps keep their cost within an envelope
that therefore does not requiring government support.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
And looking further ahead, what do you foresee as the
future of the Commonwealth Game Games?
Speaker 5 (10:09):
Oh lot, We're hugely excited and I know we've all
sort of got this halo from Paris, but afore I
think back to Birmingham. Boomingham was fantastic and it was
sentistic for our athletes, it was fantastic for who we
are as a Commonwealth country. So I'm really optimistic that
we can see the full Commonwealth Games move forward. We're
really excited about what could happen. We know we've got
(10:32):
huge amount of sport coming to the Pacific over the
next decade with Los Angeles in twenty eight, Brisbane and
thirty two Rugby World Cups fief for World Cup, so
we want to make sure that we've got everything we
can to help our athletes, and Commonwealth Games is such
a critical part of that pathway.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Thanks Nikki.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
That's Nicky Nicols, Secretary General and CEO of the New
Zealand Olympic Committee. We keep our fingers crossed for positive
developments over the next forty eight hours or so. The
Commonwealth Game set to be hosted by Glasgow in twenty
twenty six.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
The Chamber is now in session on sports Fix.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
On the Sports Fix podcast is always on a Monday,
in fact, on every day, but on a Monday. The
Chamber consists of the People's Chamber, as it has been
stylistically named, featuring me and Elijah, who joins us.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Now, how was your weekend?
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Mate?
Speaker 6 (11:22):
I have I've had a rough twenty four hours, Pony,
not gonna lie. My beloved Bulldogs were pipped in the
NRL elimination final against Manley. So I've just spent the
last few four hours crying some. I'm okay now, so
as always I'm here on the podcast, so yeah, we'll.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Treat this as therapy in some way. So I did
see some social media.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
It almost almost rubbed salt into the wound, didn't it
that you had to just had to read some sports stories.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
About your beloved bulldogs. That must have been a bit tough.
Yeah it was.
Speaker 6 (11:50):
But I had it together during the Liverrary, and you know,
as us professionals do, Pioneers so and then immediately after
I read I cried so again.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
So yeah, that's all right, Well should we start there?
Speaker 3 (12:04):
It just feels to me as though we're on target
for a Storm Panther's Grand Final. I know it's only
been week one and results in those two games kind
of went to form, but it does give you an idea,
doesn't it, especially when they're playing other teams who finished
in the top four. The Panthers getting rid of the
Roosters thirty points to ten, the Storm beating the Sharks
thirty seven points to ten.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
They were just far and away better than their opponents.
We might as well just put them into the Grand
Final now, I.
Speaker 6 (12:32):
Think so, Pineer. I think there's always been the gap
between the Storm and the Panthers and everyone else, and
we saw that over the weekend. I'm interested to see
the Storm and the Panthers go at it. I mean,
the Panthers looking for four straight premierships. The Storm have
probably been the form team they're they're the mining premiers,
so I'm looking forward to that contest. And even looking
at the other teams, the Roosters have had some injuries
(12:53):
over the last few weeks, and the Sharks, you know,
didn't look too great on the weekend against the Storm,
and I don't think Manly or the Cowboys can even
compete at that level. So yeah, I'm with you, Panier.
If you're a Stormer a Panthers band, I'd probably start
with might tickets to the Grand Final.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Yeah, So Shark's Cowboys on Friday night, Roosters Sea Eagles
on Saturday. That feels like Sharks and Roosters, doesn't it?
At which point they'll ever have a crack at these
other two Titans and not the Gold Coast Tighters, but
Titans of Rugby League. It just like I say, at
the risk of repeating myself, I just feels like we're
on target for a Storm Penrith final.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
And I think if you're a neutral, that's probably what
you want, isn't it.
Speaker 6 (13:35):
It is it's the two best teams in the competition.
You want to see the best of the best go
at it. And yeah, I mean the Storm and the Panthers.
They met in the They've met in the in the
Grand Final a few years back. So yeah, as always
Storm and Panthers, looking forward to when they clash.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
All right, let's move on to Mattters closer to home
Ranfilly Shield. Yesterday. Wellington were favored by many people, including
the TAB, albeit narrowly, to go down to Blendham and
take the rand Philly Shield off Tasman after just a week.
But there's there's something pretty potent about having that shield
on the sideline. Tessaman had had a good season already anyway,
and they're now six from six. They were five from
(14:14):
five before yesterday. I must say, I mean cards on
the table. I'm a wellingtony and I wanted Wellington to
win the Shield, but I'm not absolutely entirely upset that
it's staying in Tasman. I quite like the idea that
it's in the in the Tasman top of the South
region for a bit longer.
Speaker 6 (14:30):
Yeah, I mean, you saw the scenes in that game
yesterday done in Lenham. How how much the Randfrelly Shield
means to the community and how much that game meant
to the Tasman region, and as an Aucklander, I am
ecstatic that Tasman retained it because October second, Auckland will
go down. It's a challenge Tasman for the Randfilly Shield.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Oh jeez.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
As an Aucklander, we're going to It's coming home, Piney,
That's what.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
I'm going to say.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
The very rare Wednesday nights are Randfury Shield challenge because
it's in the middle of Tasman storm week, isn't it.
So it is they if they do manage to get
past Auckland, which by the sounds of things you don't
think they will. But if they do, they've got another
challenge on the Saturday against Dartanaki, which might be quite
as stern a challenge. But I just like the fact
that you talked about the scenes and they've had it
(15:16):
right across the week and they've taken it to all
sorts of places around the region, and I think in
many ways what they've done has done that just in
case they lost it after a week, so at least
at least share it around for a bit. Now they
can take a bit of a breath. They know they've
got it until as you put at Auckland come to
town to take it on the second of October. That's
you know, two and a half weeks away or three
weeks away, so you know they can now, you know,
(15:37):
take a bit of a breath and take it round
to more schools and more rugby clubs and allow more
people to see it.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
That is what the Shield's about.
Speaker 6 (15:45):
Yeah, and that's what the Mystic Rugby in New Zealand
is about in the NPC competition. I still hold the
ran for this shield personally as the pinnacle when it
comes to New Zealand, the Mystic Rugby and the Tasman.
I mean it's great that they're making that they made
the most of their time with the shield, considering it's
their first time with the shields as a new union.
(16:07):
So yeah, I guess a bit more time with the
shield for those players, for the region and for those
players as well who have been Tasmen for so long.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Quick word on the Black Ferns going down to the
Red Roses of England at Twickenham early hours of yesterday morning.
That's two losses on the bounce. Now to England w
XP one last year this game they play them again
in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Does it feel like we're playing with a catch up
on England in women's rugby at the moment?
Speaker 5 (16:35):
To you?
Speaker 6 (16:37):
I think so, But I do think we're starting to
close the gap. I watched the game of the weekend
and we made plenty of errors, but they are eras
that the Black Friends can fix. A lot of them
were handling errors, and when you're playing a clinical team
like England, they they're able to make the most of
those opportunities and score on the other end. So I
(16:57):
do think we are still playing catch up. We lost
the Canada as well earlier in the year, if you remember, so.
I do think it's gonna be tricky coming up in
the WSV tournament. But yeah, I think we can be
optimistic about the Black fans when we're looking at the
bigger pitch in the Rugby World Cup looming next year.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
All Right, we'll get a better gauge in a couple
of weeks when WXB one rolls around New Zealand play Ireland,
then England again and then France to finish their year,
and that finishes us in the People's Chamber for today, Elijah.
I hope your week gets better after a heartbreaking weekend
for you, and I hope I can coax you back
into the chamber about the same time next Monday.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Alri is thanks finding.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news powered
by News Talks V.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
That is all we have for you on the Sports
Fix podcast for today. Thanks for listening in. A fresh
episode will be in your ears. We'll certainly in your
podcast feed if you subscribe at around about the same
time tomorrow and for more from News Talks EDB Sport,
tune into Sports Talk weeknights between seven and eight pm
all weekend Sport midday to three.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Saturday and Sunday.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
For more from News Talks EDB, listen live on air
or online and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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