July 26, 2024 • 8 mins
New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Nicki Nicol joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview all the glitz and glam from the 'Opening Ceremony'.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk zedb Let's whip off to Paris.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Now and why wouldn't we There's a rather large event
going on over the next couple of weeks, and we're
joined by the CEO of n z OC, Or Legrand
FROMAGE the New Zealand Olympic Committee, Nicky, Nick or Niki.
Welcome to the program. Great to have you on board.
Have you managed to sit down and breathe since you've
gotten there, because she's been pretty intense and basically the
games haven't even started, have they.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Hi, Darcy bon Soois, Yes, it's been pretty fng since
we've arrived, but no, the team have done an amazing
job setting up the village, welcoming our athletes all over
the country and in Tahiti. And yeah, we're just looking
forward to the big Dancy opening ceremony this evening in France.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
You get a chance to actually shoot off to Tahiti
and watch Chapooh that's an incredible wave. I mean, you know,
we all due respect to Paris, but Tahiti.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Come on, we'd love to but no, Safie and Billy
are there. We did fear well then before we left,
so that was really beautiful. We've been presented their teen
point nine at Peha. They're ready to go, just can't wait.
And what's really lovely is the IOC will be flying
the athletes up that want to so we'll see them
at the end, so they'll be here with us for
the closing ceremony.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Fantastic. That's going to be some amazing viewing. I tell
you that wave is quite something else right. I hate
to bring it up, but I will because it's been
the focus of everyone's attention, not just in New zealandic
globally as well, the dreaded Canadian saga. It seems like
every day it delivers more. How are you in the
team coping with this interference, this interruption?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, well, first and foremost, you know, we're hugely disappointed.
We have great relationships with the Canadian Olympic Committee. They
were the first people to notify us, so they are
also deeply disappointed. It's not the values that they espouse
as a country and as a team as well. So
they've moved really swiftly and where things are at at
the moment, as we have asked FIFA to undertake a review.
(01:59):
FIFA run the tournament at the Olympics, so with the
IOC and FIFA, that review is underway. Yeah, it's disappointing.
What we are super proud of is the way that
our amazing woman last night turned up and had a
really gritty performance. Couldn't quite sort of get at home.
But you know, what we're trying to do is just
make sure we focus on the next game, which is
(02:20):
Columbia on Sunday in Paris.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Well, let's go after this, but I've got to ask
expectations around a timeline before we get some kind of
idea aro on what FIFA and the IOC are going
to do about this.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah, we've asked FIFA to expedite it. So working closely
with New Zealand Football. The reason we want to make
sure that we get this process done and dusted before
the end of pool play because once you move into
the knockout part of the tournament, it's very hard to
get any redress. So that is what we're focused on.
So that's a big focus for us in supporting football
and the team to get a resolution as quick as possible.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Have you asked for any specific punishment or penalty.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
We're working through that and at the end of the
day we will take we will accept the sanctions that
FIFA and the IOC play through. That is their job
and they will assess all the information. We don't have
all the information, and as you say, we learn new
things each day. You know, that's why it's probably too
early for us to speculate.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
All right, let's push that to one side. CEO of
INC Nick Nickel joins the show. The big opening ceremony
tomorrow morning at New Zealand's at time, and I hate
to say it, but I will set the scene for
the sem You see what I did. Then they're floating
down a river.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
How's this great play on? We're's well done. Look, it's
going to be amazing. And certainly I was speaking with
one of the league producers of the event the other
evening and you know, what they have will be very
special for the athletes that do participate. And we haven't
got all of our team attending because clearly we've got
nine sports starting on the day following, so they are
(03:49):
putting their performances first. But it will be a spectacular scene.
It ride down the Seine and we will have a barge.
We're actually sharing it with Pakistan and maybe another country.
We're just waiting on the final numbers to be confirmed.
And the athletes will pray come down on the boats.
They'll all assemble on the bridge just behind the Eiffel
Tower and then they'll walk into the big at theater
(04:09):
at the end and so look, it will be amazing.
We have Her Excellency Dame Cindi Ketto our patron as
well as Governor General here supporting us, and you know
we've been had a number of briefings as we hear
what's coming, and I think it will be an absolute festival.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
How big is the barge? How many athletes are going
to get on this? It sounds like a bit sardine action.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
No no, no, I mean over one hundred people will
be on the barges so that when they're quite so no,
I think they'll be fine from that perspective. You know,
the organizing committee has been working on this for a
long time, so it will be an amazing celebration and
I think, you know, credit to the French for trying
something different, and you know, we look forward to it.
The weather's not looking great, so we're just hoping a
little bit of rain that forecasts will sort of blow
(04:51):
through before then and then it will be an absolutely spectacle.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
So how many athletes from New Zealand are actually going
to be on the barge azz part of the ceremony, It.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Will depend and we're really needing that to each athlete
to decide, but I'm expecting sort of twenty to thirty.
We don't have a lot of the athletes here yet.
If you think about all the sports during the second week,
canoeist athletics, you know they still haven't actually arrived into
the village. And of course we've got sailors in Marseilles,
we've got surfers in Tahiti, footballers all around the country,
so we don't have a huge number of the team
(05:20):
in the village at this stage. And that's just as
per the logistics and operations plans that have already been
in place.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Very cool for the flag bears to be involved, and
also with their fine cloaks on, we're to hope the
bow of what essentially is a whiker. I love the
way this is working out, Nikki.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Will be amazing. And it was a very special flag
bearer announcement yesterday. We had Joe La Bear in person
and then Aaron. We were hugely grateful that he accepted
the offer invitation to be the flag bearer, but couldn't
be with us yesterday for the announcement because it was
their last day on the track, their major last training run,
(06:00):
and so he is on a train this morning coming across,
and so he will be cloaked in the village and
then prepared ready to go. Very special for Aaron and Joe.
They'll be amazing ambassadors for us.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Enormous amount of energy in Paris, be it negative from
some of the upset Parisians, positive from all the tourists
up there over as well. What have you mostly gleaned
out of your time over there as far as what's
happening in Paris and how this game is being accepted.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Yeah, really positively. The next once the opening ceremony gets underway.
Because of the security around the river, that has just
mean there's been a little bit of logistical issues around
transport and getting across. All the bridges have been closed
for a few days and things like that, but that
will all be released tonight, so well, you know, Paris
will be wide open and people will be able to
(06:45):
get about. So that's been probably the only niggle from
a local perspective. Metros are running under the river, but
you can't get across and so that's probably the only
thing that people find to navigate. We know some people
have taken an opportunity to get away during the prison summer,
but lots of locals that we've met on the street,
the volunteers have just been amazing and it's going to
be a special games.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
And as far as the village and the athletes are
there yet, I've been told by Aaron Rautleff that the
pastries the baguettes are outstanding and that's been a highlight
for her so far. But I'm presuming they've put on
quite a show and the accommodation is something else.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
The accommodation has been fantastic, and certainly, listening to a
number of people around the village, you know, this has
been one of the best prepared sort of physical parts
of the villages that we've had over many years. What's
also been really special is the way that the New
Zealand team come together and dress it and make it
Kibi eyes it and I think that really helps to
give the team a kind of a home away from
(07:42):
home field. So you know, a lot of our inspiration
from former Olympians and successes as well as a lot
of cultural elements are there, so that's really neat. The
pastries are great. I can certainly we can mean the
pain of recastance. Yet there's plenty of cards for us
all here.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
I'm sure you're well and ready to go. It's going
to be a stunning couple of weeks in France. And
Nick nicoll Legrand from that's what we're calling in now
of the New Zealand Alanbet Committee, thanks so much for
taking some time to speak us here at News Talks.
He'd be most appreciated.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Thanks Darcy, and thanks to all the support from home.
It's just makes a huge difference to all our team.
Many thanks for.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
More from Sports Talk. Listen live to News Talks it'd
be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk zedb Let's whip off to Paris.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Now and why wouldn't we There's a rather large event
going on over the next couple of weeks, and we're
joined by the CEO of n z OC, Or Legrand
FROMAGE the New Zealand Olympic Committee, Nicky, Nick or Niki.
Welcome to the program. Great to have you on board.
Have you managed to sit down and breathe since you've
gotten there, because she's been pretty intense and basically the
games haven't even started, have they.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Hi, Darcy bon Soois, Yes, it's been pretty fng since
we've arrived, but no, the team have done an amazing
job setting up the village, welcoming our athletes all over
the country and in Tahiti. And yeah, we're just looking
forward to the big Dancy opening ceremony this evening in France.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
You get a chance to actually shoot off to Tahiti
and watch Chapooh that's an incredible wave. I mean, you know,
we all due respect to Paris, but Tahiti.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Come on, we'd love to but no, Safie and Billy
are there. We did fear well then before we left,
so that was really beautiful. We've been presented their teen
point nine at Peha. They're ready to go, just can't wait.
And what's really lovely is the IOC will be flying
the athletes up that want to so we'll see them
at the end, so they'll be here with us for
the closing ceremony.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Fantastic. That's going to be some amazing viewing. I tell
you that wave is quite something else right. I hate
to bring it up, but I will because it's been
the focus of everyone's attention, not just in New zealandic
globally as well, the dreaded Canadian saga. It seems like
every day it delivers more. How are you in the
team coping with this interference, this interruption?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, well, first and foremost, you know, we're hugely disappointed.
We have great relationships with the Canadian Olympic Committee. They
were the first people to notify us, so they are
also deeply disappointed. It's not the values that they espouse
as a country and as a team as well. So
they've moved really swiftly and where things are at at
the moment, as we have asked FIFA to undertake a review.
(01:59):
FIFA run the tournament at the Olympics, so with the
IOC and FIFA, that review is underway. Yeah, it's disappointing.
What we are super proud of is the way that
our amazing woman last night turned up and had a
really gritty performance. Couldn't quite sort of get at home.
But you know, what we're trying to do is just
make sure we focus on the next game, which is
(02:20):
Columbia on Sunday in Paris.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Well, let's go after this, but I've got to ask
expectations around a timeline before we get some kind of
idea aro on what FIFA and the IOC are going
to do about this.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah, we've asked FIFA to expedite it. So working closely
with New Zealand Football. The reason we want to make
sure that we get this process done and dusted before
the end of pool play because once you move into
the knockout part of the tournament, it's very hard to
get any redress. So that is what we're focused on.
So that's a big focus for us in supporting football
and the team to get a resolution as quick as possible.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Have you asked for any specific punishment or penalty.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
We're working through that and at the end of the
day we will take we will accept the sanctions that
FIFA and the IOC play through. That is their job
and they will assess all the information. We don't have
all the information, and as you say, we learn new
things each day. You know, that's why it's probably too
early for us to speculate.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
All right, let's push that to one side. CEO of
INC Nick Nickel joins the show. The big opening ceremony
tomorrow morning at New Zealand's at time, and I hate
to say it, but I will set the scene for
the sem You see what I did. Then they're floating
down a river.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
How's this great play on? We're's well done. Look, it's
going to be amazing. And certainly I was speaking with
one of the league producers of the event the other
evening and you know, what they have will be very
special for the athletes that do participate. And we haven't
got all of our team attending because clearly we've got
nine sports starting on the day following, so they are
(03:49):
putting their performances first. But it will be a spectacular scene.
It ride down the Seine and we will have a barge.
We're actually sharing it with Pakistan and maybe another country.
We're just waiting on the final numbers to be confirmed.
And the athletes will pray come down on the boats.
They'll all assemble on the bridge just behind the Eiffel
Tower and then they'll walk into the big at theater
(04:09):
at the end and so look, it will be amazing.
We have Her Excellency Dame Cindi Ketto our patron as
well as Governor General here supporting us, and you know
we've been had a number of briefings as we hear
what's coming, and I think it will be an absolute festival.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
How big is the barge? How many athletes are going
to get on this? It sounds like a bit sardine action.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
No no, no, I mean over one hundred people will
be on the barges so that when they're quite so no,
I think they'll be fine from that perspective. You know,
the organizing committee has been working on this for a
long time, so it will be an amazing celebration and
I think, you know, credit to the French for trying
something different, and you know, we look forward to it.
The weather's not looking great, so we're just hoping a
little bit of rain that forecasts will sort of blow
(04:51):
through before then and then it will be an absolutely spectacle.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
So how many athletes from New Zealand are actually going
to be on the barge azz part of the ceremony, It.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Will depend and we're really needing that to each athlete
to decide, but I'm expecting sort of twenty to thirty.
We don't have a lot of the athletes here yet.
If you think about all the sports during the second week,
canoeist athletics, you know they still haven't actually arrived into
the village. And of course we've got sailors in Marseilles,
we've got surfers in Tahiti, footballers all around the country,
so we don't have a huge number of the team
(05:20):
in the village at this stage. And that's just as
per the logistics and operations plans that have already been
in place.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Very cool for the flag bears to be involved, and
also with their fine cloaks on, we're to hope the
bow of what essentially is a whiker. I love the
way this is working out, Nikki.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Will be amazing. And it was a very special flag
bearer announcement yesterday. We had Joe La Bear in person
and then Aaron. We were hugely grateful that he accepted
the offer invitation to be the flag bearer, but couldn't
be with us yesterday for the announcement because it was
their last day on the track, their major last training run,
(06:00):
and so he is on a train this morning coming across,
and so he will be cloaked in the village and
then prepared ready to go. Very special for Aaron and Joe.
They'll be amazing ambassadors for us.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Enormous amount of energy in Paris, be it negative from
some of the upset Parisians, positive from all the tourists
up there over as well. What have you mostly gleaned
out of your time over there as far as what's
happening in Paris and how this game is being accepted.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Yeah, really positively. The next once the opening ceremony gets underway.
Because of the security around the river, that has just
mean there's been a little bit of logistical issues around
transport and getting across. All the bridges have been closed
for a few days and things like that, but that
will all be released tonight, so well, you know, Paris
will be wide open and people will be able to
(06:45):
get about. So that's been probably the only niggle from
a local perspective. Metros are running under the river, but
you can't get across and so that's probably the only
thing that people find to navigate. We know some people
have taken an opportunity to get away during the prison summer,
but lots of locals that we've met on the street,
the volunteers have just been amazing and it's going to
be a special games.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
And as far as the village and the athletes are
there yet, I've been told by Aaron Rautleff that the
pastries the baguettes are outstanding and that's been a highlight
for her so far. But I'm presuming they've put on
quite a show and the accommodation is something else.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
The accommodation has been fantastic, and certainly, listening to a
number of people around the village, you know, this has
been one of the best prepared sort of physical parts
of the villages that we've had over many years. What's
also been really special is the way that the New
Zealand team come together and dress it and make it
Kibi eyes it and I think that really helps to
give the team a kind of a home away from
(07:42):
home field. So you know, a lot of our inspiration
from former Olympians and successes as well as a lot
of cultural elements are there, so that's really neat. The
pastries are great. I can certainly we can mean the
pain of recastance. Yet there's plenty of cards for us
all here.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
I'm sure you're well and ready to go. It's going
to be a stunning couple of weeks in France. And
Nick nicoll Legrand from that's what we're calling in now
of the New Zealand Alanbet Committee, thanks so much for
taking some time to speak us here at News Talks.
He'd be most appreciated.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Thanks Darcy, and thanks to all the support from home.
It's just makes a huge difference to all our team.
Many thanks for.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
More from Sports Talk. Listen live to News Talks it'd
be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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