July 17, 2024 • 8 mins
The Olympics start in about a week - bet that snuck up on ya!
The New Zealand team are in Paris already and making their preparations.
Chef de mission Nigel Avery spoke to Elliott Smith on Sportstalk about the state of the village, the athletes and the dirty Seine.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldergrave
from News Talk Z'B Sports.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Today we count down continues to the Paris Olympics, a
week away from starting the opening ceremony next Saturday morning.
But we've got sevens in football underway two days before
the opening ceremony, so early hour was next Thursday morning.
Nigel Avery is into his first Olympic Games as the
New Zealand team Chef de mission and joins us now
(00:34):
on Sports Talk. Nigel, thanks so much for joining us.
Set the scene in Paris if you could for us.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I haven't seen too much of Paris because it's been
from a airport to a hotel for a few nights
and then to the village for I think we had
I think we're three nights in now.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Look it's looking really good. We drove past the start
de Frost.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
That's all dressed beautifully, obviously, the Olympic greens beneath the
Eiffel Tower suspended in there looks amazing. They just said
their best of your day celebrations here a couple of
nights ago, and you know, five weeks for half an
our type thing.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
So it's looking really good. The village.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
We had our first shift a mission meeting a couple
of days ago, and the comments from people have been
to many games is that they thought that the village
readiness was the best I've seen. And the bump in period,
which is where you bring all all your stuff in
your dress and all that, it has been really I
guess uneventful and really nice. So and we've we've experienced
(01:27):
the same thing, so it's going really well.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
How how is the dressing up in the putting everything
together going? I think the canoe slalom and first in
a couple of days time. So is he on track?
Speaker 4 (01:38):
We will be on track, yes.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
So we've actually had a crew that come over from
the UK actually to help sort of put up sort
of the more significant significant window decals and then we're
waiting on posters and banners and all that sort of stuff.
So we're going to crew a very energy, energetic and
enthusiastic people ranging from physio as nurse doctor cons helping
out and it's going to be all hands to the
(02:01):
pumps in the next few days in readiness for those ethics,
but we will be ready in it. Point out that
we're also having to look after so the athletes are
staying off site. For example, you know, rowing and canoeing
are staying out of Paris Acdany and likewise with the
sailing team down and Marseilles, making sure they have the
equivalent of what has been in the same deny the
(02:23):
Olympic villages and their locations.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
What are you hearing from I guess athletes ahead of this,
Given I guess the COVID Games of twenty twenty one,
this feels like, you know, not a restart necessarily, but
for those athletes that were there in twenty twenty one,
they get the full experience this time around. Is that
what you're hearing?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, Like I've spoken to many of them, and I
also said, hey, look this is the second your second
time is the first time Olympian, you know, because that
will be so different. But I think the common thing
is that a huge amount of family and friends traveling
to support.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
So obviously some latent demand.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Obviously couldn't go to Tokyo, so hey, let's go to Paris,
and so lots of friends and family support. So that's
just going to be so so good for those athletes
because we know that they perform better when the other
ones are there watching.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Can you start them obviously first in and then it's
sort of a steady trickle from there as you prepare
for for next week.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, the fourth that will be pretty heavily turned on
when when rugby show.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
So we're looking forward to them as well.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
So they really do bring a lot of energy and
obviously part of our our welcoming process.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
You know that we're taking to Hakka.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
You know clearly if those metals given out for that,
they would they would sweep the podium for because that
just brings so much energy.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
So we're looking forward to them.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
But look, every athlete is it is critically important, you know,
to us, and we will support them and the best
way we can. So let's right across the board and
whichever location they're at.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
How do you balance out I guess with the rugby
sevens team starting early on a footballers as well, but
the sevens you know they're starting a couple of days earlier.
Is so does that change your preparation and in terms
of how you roll out the athletes village and get
everyone in.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
No, not really, I mean, look it's just the day
they start. Obviously, lots of notice of that, as have
rugby in particular, so they're preparing for that and were
prepare our support services around that as well, So it's
no different really just the time that they start.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Having been personally in Paris last year for the Rugby
World Cup, obviously security was paramount. Then what are you
seeing and are you massured that everything is being done
on a security level to make these safe games?
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:34):
I think I think it is, so all the briefings
we've had leading into the games, just the journey in
a private uber from an airbnb, the first couple of
nights to the village. As soon as we hit Saint Denis,
there was like pockets of police at each corner. There's
groups of police in the village that are ready to
respond to things should that need be. So I think
(04:56):
we've got quite confidence in their ability. They're taking it very,
very seriously, as they should. But I guess you know,
this all going to be the lone wolf actor that
might pop up, So we just have to be diligent,
just going to be careful and do the smart things
like traveling in any big city.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
One hundred and ninety five athletes the official number for
these games. Is it good to have that list? Finally,
locked in and loaded and ready to go.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
Yeah it is, Yeah it is. That's one.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
So it's an amazing group of people, amazing group of Kiwis,
and just super looking forward to sort of meeting them
here on the ground. As I said, I've spoken to
a number of them, probably most, and they're very excited, obviously,
very tuned in and engaged to what's what's going to
happen in the next sort of three weeks or so,
and just really looking forward to to sort of seeing
(05:47):
that untold.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Plenty of headlines and I'm sure they'll continue about the
river sen what's the latest around that, and the competition
with the triathletes and everything going on there.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
I think overall positive, but we had some testing results
that pop up just before we left, so about a
week ago, I guess, and they were really positive. It's
order pined on rain and so we had quite a
significant downfall a couple of nights ago. That almost tropical
went on for maybe twenty thirty minutes, so that probably
wouldn't have helped. But it's quite a fast flowing river,
(06:18):
so it does clear out quite rapidly. So there's fine
where the forecast the next four days and we hope
it'll just carry on not too hot, of course, but
I hope that it will carry on as a normal trifle.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Just on that, how is the heat And I guess
it's probably a bit too early for forecasts and everything
like that, but how prepared are you around the heat
issue and how hot Paris can be in the summer.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
I'll guess the initial the initial consumer was unpacking containers
and heat. Unfortunately, it was actually quite cool so from
our perspective, which is not really that important, but it
was actually quite pleasant. But yeah, it's heading into the
low thirties in the next few days, which that's okay.
It's when it hits into the mid to late thirties
could be a problem. But look, we've got heat strategy
(07:04):
in place with you know, the whole Pool's slushies, ice fests,
all that sort of stuff. And I think, look, you know,
we're not that far away from the history of Tokyo
three years ago where it was a significant factor, and
so all the the any so the federations that they've
got that dial them as well. So we just have
to manage it as best we can and be prepared
(07:26):
as best we can.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
And just finally, how prepared are you? I mean, how
many spreadsheets have you got?
Speaker 4 (07:32):
So?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
How excited are you for your first Olympic Games? Is
the shift to mission a lot?
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Super excited of course, a huge, huge privilege and just
an amazing honor to lead the team. So pretty focused
on the setup phase, which we're now got a few
day trips to support and welcome in both the football
teams and sailing, and then it just rolls into welcoming
the other teams.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
And I haven't really looked much further than that.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Because my experience in Birmingham is a plan land the
be Jesus out of it and it was all all
turned to custod in the first morning. So I'm just
going to maybe just look at it and a few
days in advance, but I'll certainly be getting around.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
To support as many as many people as I can.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Nigel Avery joining us on News Talk ZIBB. He is
the new Zealand team shift Mission for Paris twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talk
ZBB from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldergrave
from News Talk Z'B Sports.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Today we count down continues to the Paris Olympics, a
week away from starting the opening ceremony next Saturday morning.
But we've got sevens in football underway two days before
the opening ceremony, so early hour was next Thursday morning.
Nigel Avery is into his first Olympic Games as the
New Zealand team Chef de mission and joins us now
(00:34):
on Sports Talk. Nigel, thanks so much for joining us.
Set the scene in Paris if you could for us.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I haven't seen too much of Paris because it's been
from a airport to a hotel for a few nights
and then to the village for I think we had
I think we're three nights in now.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Look it's looking really good. We drove past the start
de Frost.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
That's all dressed beautifully, obviously, the Olympic greens beneath the
Eiffel Tower suspended in there looks amazing. They just said
their best of your day celebrations here a couple of
nights ago, and you know, five weeks for half an
our type thing.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
So it's looking really good. The village.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
We had our first shift a mission meeting a couple
of days ago, and the comments from people have been
to many games is that they thought that the village
readiness was the best I've seen. And the bump in period,
which is where you bring all all your stuff in
your dress and all that, it has been really I
guess uneventful and really nice. So and we've we've experienced
(01:27):
the same thing, so it's going really well.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
How how is the dressing up in the putting everything
together going? I think the canoe slalom and first in
a couple of days time. So is he on track?
Speaker 4 (01:38):
We will be on track, yes.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
So we've actually had a crew that come over from
the UK actually to help sort of put up sort
of the more significant significant window decals and then we're
waiting on posters and banners and all that sort of stuff.
So we're going to crew a very energy, energetic and
enthusiastic people ranging from physio as nurse doctor cons helping
out and it's going to be all hands to the
(02:01):
pumps in the next few days in readiness for those ethics,
but we will be ready in it. Point out that
we're also having to look after so the athletes are
staying off site. For example, you know, rowing and canoeing
are staying out of Paris Acdany and likewise with the
sailing team down and Marseilles, making sure they have the
equivalent of what has been in the same deny the
(02:23):
Olympic villages and their locations.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
What are you hearing from I guess athletes ahead of this,
Given I guess the COVID Games of twenty twenty one,
this feels like, you know, not a restart necessarily, but
for those athletes that were there in twenty twenty one,
they get the full experience this time around. Is that
what you're hearing?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, Like I've spoken to many of them, and I
also said, hey, look this is the second your second
time is the first time Olympian, you know, because that
will be so different. But I think the common thing
is that a huge amount of family and friends traveling
to support.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
So obviously some latent demand.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Obviously couldn't go to Tokyo, so hey, let's go to Paris,
and so lots of friends and family support. So that's
just going to be so so good for those athletes
because we know that they perform better when the other
ones are there watching.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Can you start them obviously first in and then it's
sort of a steady trickle from there as you prepare
for for next week.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, the fourth that will be pretty heavily turned on
when when rugby show.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
So we're looking forward to them as well.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
So they really do bring a lot of energy and
obviously part of our our welcoming process.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
You know that we're taking to Hakka.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
You know clearly if those metals given out for that,
they would they would sweep the podium for because that
just brings so much energy.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
So we're looking forward to them.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
But look, every athlete is it is critically important, you know,
to us, and we will support them and the best
way we can. So let's right across the board and
whichever location they're at.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
How do you balance out I guess with the rugby
sevens team starting early on a footballers as well, but
the sevens you know they're starting a couple of days earlier.
Is so does that change your preparation and in terms
of how you roll out the athletes village and get
everyone in.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
No, not really, I mean, look it's just the day
they start. Obviously, lots of notice of that, as have
rugby in particular, so they're preparing for that and were
prepare our support services around that as well, So it's
no different really just the time that they start.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Having been personally in Paris last year for the Rugby
World Cup, obviously security was paramount. Then what are you
seeing and are you massured that everything is being done
on a security level to make these safe games?
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:34):
I think I think it is, so all the briefings
we've had leading into the games, just the journey in
a private uber from an airbnb, the first couple of
nights to the village. As soon as we hit Saint Denis,
there was like pockets of police at each corner. There's
groups of police in the village that are ready to
respond to things should that need be. So I think
(04:56):
we've got quite confidence in their ability. They're taking it very,
very seriously, as they should. But I guess you know,
this all going to be the lone wolf actor that
might pop up, So we just have to be diligent,
just going to be careful and do the smart things
like traveling in any big city.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
One hundred and ninety five athletes the official number for
these games. Is it good to have that list? Finally,
locked in and loaded and ready to go.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
Yeah it is, Yeah it is. That's one.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
So it's an amazing group of people, amazing group of Kiwis,
and just super looking forward to sort of meeting them
here on the ground. As I said, I've spoken to
a number of them, probably most, and they're very excited, obviously,
very tuned in and engaged to what's what's going to
happen in the next sort of three weeks or so,
and just really looking forward to to sort of seeing
(05:47):
that untold.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Plenty of headlines and I'm sure they'll continue about the
river sen what's the latest around that, and the competition
with the triathletes and everything going on there.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
I think overall positive, but we had some testing results
that pop up just before we left, so about a
week ago, I guess, and they were really positive. It's
order pined on rain and so we had quite a
significant downfall a couple of nights ago. That almost tropical
went on for maybe twenty thirty minutes, so that probably
wouldn't have helped. But it's quite a fast flowing river,
(06:18):
so it does clear out quite rapidly. So there's fine
where the forecast the next four days and we hope
it'll just carry on not too hot, of course, but
I hope that it will carry on as a normal trifle.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Just on that, how is the heat And I guess
it's probably a bit too early for forecasts and everything
like that, but how prepared are you around the heat
issue and how hot Paris can be in the summer.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
I'll guess the initial the initial consumer was unpacking containers
and heat. Unfortunately, it was actually quite cool so from
our perspective, which is not really that important, but it
was actually quite pleasant. But yeah, it's heading into the
low thirties in the next few days, which that's okay.
It's when it hits into the mid to late thirties
could be a problem. But look, we've got heat strategy
(07:04):
in place with you know, the whole Pool's slushies, ice fests,
all that sort of stuff. And I think, look, you know,
we're not that far away from the history of Tokyo
three years ago where it was a significant factor, and
so all the the any so the federations that they've
got that dial them as well. So we just have
to manage it as best we can and be prepared
(07:26):
as best we can.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
And just finally, how prepared are you? I mean, how
many spreadsheets have you got?
Speaker 4 (07:32):
So?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
How excited are you for your first Olympic Games? Is
the shift to mission a lot?
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Super excited of course, a huge, huge privilege and just
an amazing honor to lead the team. So pretty focused
on the setup phase, which we're now got a few
day trips to support and welcome in both the football
teams and sailing, and then it just rolls into welcoming
the other teams.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
And I haven't really looked much further than that.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Because my experience in Birmingham is a plan land the
be Jesus out of it and it was all all
turned to custod in the first morning. So I'm just
going to maybe just look at it and a few
days in advance, but I'll certainly be getting around.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
To support as many as many people as I can.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Nigel Avery joining us on News Talk ZIBB. He is
the new Zealand team shift Mission for Paris twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talk
ZBB from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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