August 26, 2024 • 6 mins
Team NZ have landed in Paris ahead of the Paralympics 2024 - Chef de Mission Raylene Bates joins Craig Cumming to chat the competition ahead and staying grounded with home comforts.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Riley's talk Paralympics now and let's head over to Paris
and catch up with the cheft the mission. Railing baits
are very good morning from home railing here in Dunedin.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Oh, good morning, Craig. How are you.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
I'm very well. I'm very excited when I saw I
was going to be talking to you. You're based over there,
you're the chef of mission for the Paralympics. First of all, congratulations.
How's everything going?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Thank you? It's going really really well. The village is amazing.
The team's start to come in and you know, there's
a real hype. There's a hype around the city. People
reminds me a little bit of London twenty twelve. It's
not a separate Olympics and Paralympics. It's actually a campaign.
It's Paris twenty twenty four campaign. A lot of excitement, amnkst.
(00:42):
Families been able to get in to get tickets to
the Paralympics, you know, families that missed out on Olympics
tickets for instance.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
A lot of the sports are.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
All sold out already, so yeah, it's a pretty big hype.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
It's great.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
A couple of weeks since the Olympic Games has wrapped
up before the Paralympic so just a case of a
bit of reset, a bit of transition, a bit of
changes of some things, just to make sure everything's ready
to go.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, Paris have been very, very smart, the local organizing committee.
They have refurbished a lot of existing buildings to actually
provide the structures around this whole games. But normally what
has happened in the past is a lot of the
structures have.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Been built and then they've gone back.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
And refurbished to make accessible for the Paralympics. Paris twenty
twenty four haven't done that. They've actually built it as
an accessible village and venues right from the start, so
one being sustainable and two saving a lot of money.
So there hasn't been a great deal of transition. Obviously
(01:47):
a lot of cleaning and chain of signage and things
like that, but construction works and that hasn't been at
the forefront this time.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
So they've been very smart in that approach, which.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
It doesn't surprise you. They're very innovative, aren't they. And
I mean when we just watched you know, the Olympics
are gone, I mean it must be a special place
to be rallying. You're no stranger to Olympic Games, to
these massive events, but you know, being but in a
place like Paris, it just looks like they do things
so well.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Oh absolutely.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I mean they know how to put a good show on,
let's face it, and they're well used to doing that
as well. But you know, the whole city get behind things,
and you know that they just completely immerse themselves in it.
They you know, we're volunteers who just they just want
to be part of teams. They want to embrace everything
(02:35):
but the city itself, you know, I mean, what a
great way to show off their city, you know, having
the opening ceremony and the chancelise into like concord, having
venues all around the city. It's fantastic. They've absolutely embraced
these games totally.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
How have you been is it You've been nice and
relaxed because I can imagine Raylin and your to do
list every day is massive.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yeah, it's been a huge. A few days since we
arrived in the village, the team that came in have worked.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
You know, there's been a lot of blood and tears.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Shehit actually trying to actually set up We came into
a concrete. You know, a team room was just basically
a concrete shell. So we've managed to build a team
room and provide an environment where the athletes have walked
in and they've just gone wow, so extremely proud of
the of the team that have you know, worked really
hard to get everything ready for the village of the
(03:28):
rival of the athletes and ensure that our New Zealand
team feel like it's somewhere special, that it's a home
away from home that they're joining, you know, the rest
of their finale and as a team, and they're really
in a good space to be able to now head
into competition and do what they do best, which.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Is really important, isn't it Rayly Because as you know
you've coached for many many years, it's you know, a
happy athlete, a relaxed athlete is more like to be
a high performing athlete. And being able to make them
feel comfortable outside of the arena because everything's different, that
new stuff. That that's the bit that will probably create
the tension and the nerves and the anxiety.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Oh one hundred percent, you know, And that's the thing.
If we can just keep the.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Noise away from the athletes, we can provide a safe
environment for them, a place where they feel you know, respected,
a place where they feel at home, somewhere where they
actually feel safe. Well, then that's going to just keep
their street levels down and then they just have to
worry about the job at hand. But you know, it
(04:33):
is really really important. We've got a food area set
up downstairs in the in the team room where they
can just come and get snacks, you know, food from
home that they know.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
It's that they can eat on a daily basis.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
It's not going to react with them, for instance, although
the food here is absolutely amazing, I must say, but
you know, save them.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Walking, for instance, to the food hall.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Just providing those little things, you know that just a
bit of the key we arena and things like that,
just to make them feel at home.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
So yeah, it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Yeah, just tell us some numbers wise, how many athletes
do we have?
Speaker 3 (05:10):
So we've got twenty five athletes over eight sports and
it's the first time we've had so many sports, so
it's very very cool.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
We've got a very diverse team.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
We've got athletes from her based in America, We've got
obviously athletes in New Zealand. We've got one of our
athletes who is a former Paralympic medalist for Germany who is.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Now representing New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
And we've got a support team around them of another
well twenty something twenty eight odd people, so we've got
a full team of around about sixty one plus.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
We've got support from.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Paralympics New Zealand CEO and cheer outside. We've got support
from High Performance Sport in New Zealand and Steve Chu
so it's pretty cool. It's really good to see we've
got the Minister of Sport arriving in for a couple
of days. It's the first time we've had we've had
a Minister of Sport at the Paralympic Games.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Is there's a lot of first for this team.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
There's a lot of new things for this team. So
it's a huge honor for me to be able to
be leading this team as chef to mission. I haven't
been involved with so many campaigns, as you say, but
just being able to bring a little bit of uniqueness
into this campaign that some of our well seasoned campaigners
won't have experienced in their previous campaigns.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Ah Well, I know, Rayleen, having known you that they
all be very well looked after. They've got a great
person in charge, and we wish everyone all the very
best in the coming days. And thanks very much for
joining us this morning. And you try and enjoy yourself too, Railey,
knowing you've got all these responsibilities.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Thanks so much, Craig. Hopefully we can do the nation proud.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Absolutely you certainly will. In a thrailing in charge. They
are being lead very very well. Appreciate her time. It
is fifteen minutes past eight. We'll talk some weather next
year on the Country Sport Breakfast
Riley's talk Paralympics now and let's head over to Paris
and catch up with the cheft the mission. Railing baits
are very good morning from home railing here in Dunedin.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Oh, good morning, Craig. How are you.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
I'm very well. I'm very excited when I saw I
was going to be talking to you. You're based over there,
you're the chef of mission for the Paralympics. First of all, congratulations.
How's everything going?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Thank you? It's going really really well. The village is amazing.
The team's start to come in and you know, there's
a real hype. There's a hype around the city. People
reminds me a little bit of London twenty twelve. It's
not a separate Olympics and Paralympics. It's actually a campaign.
It's Paris twenty twenty four campaign. A lot of excitement, amnkst.
(00:42):
Families been able to get in to get tickets to
the Paralympics, you know, families that missed out on Olympics
tickets for instance.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
A lot of the sports are.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
All sold out already, so yeah, it's a pretty big hype.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
It's great.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
A couple of weeks since the Olympic Games has wrapped
up before the Paralympic so just a case of a
bit of reset, a bit of transition, a bit of
changes of some things, just to make sure everything's ready
to go.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, Paris have been very, very smart, the local organizing committee.
They have refurbished a lot of existing buildings to actually
provide the structures around this whole games. But normally what
has happened in the past is a lot of the
structures have.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Been built and then they've gone back.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
And refurbished to make accessible for the Paralympics. Paris twenty
twenty four haven't done that. They've actually built it as
an accessible village and venues right from the start, so
one being sustainable and two saving a lot of money.
So there hasn't been a great deal of transition. Obviously
(01:47):
a lot of cleaning and chain of signage and things
like that, but construction works and that hasn't been at
the forefront this time.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
So they've been very smart in that approach, which.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
It doesn't surprise you. They're very innovative, aren't they. And
I mean when we just watched you know, the Olympics
are gone, I mean it must be a special place
to be rallying. You're no stranger to Olympic Games, to
these massive events, but you know, being but in a
place like Paris, it just looks like they do things
so well.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Oh absolutely.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I mean they know how to put a good show on,
let's face it, and they're well used to doing that
as well. But you know, the whole city get behind things,
and you know that they just completely immerse themselves in it.
They you know, we're volunteers who just they just want
to be part of teams. They want to embrace everything
(02:35):
but the city itself, you know, I mean, what a
great way to show off their city, you know, having
the opening ceremony and the chancelise into like concord, having
venues all around the city. It's fantastic. They've absolutely embraced
these games totally.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
How have you been is it You've been nice and
relaxed because I can imagine Raylin and your to do
list every day is massive.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yeah, it's been a huge. A few days since we
arrived in the village, the team that came in have worked.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
You know, there's been a lot of blood and tears.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Shehit actually trying to actually set up We came into
a concrete. You know, a team room was just basically
a concrete shell. So we've managed to build a team
room and provide an environment where the athletes have walked
in and they've just gone wow, so extremely proud of
the of the team that have you know, worked really
hard to get everything ready for the village of the
(03:28):
rival of the athletes and ensure that our New Zealand
team feel like it's somewhere special, that it's a home
away from home that they're joining, you know, the rest
of their finale and as a team, and they're really
in a good space to be able to now head
into competition and do what they do best, which.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Is really important, isn't it Rayly Because as you know
you've coached for many many years, it's you know, a
happy athlete, a relaxed athlete is more like to be
a high performing athlete. And being able to make them
feel comfortable outside of the arena because everything's different, that
new stuff. That that's the bit that will probably create
the tension and the nerves and the anxiety.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Oh one hundred percent, you know, And that's the thing.
If we can just keep the.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Noise away from the athletes, we can provide a safe
environment for them, a place where they feel you know, respected,
a place where they feel at home, somewhere where they
actually feel safe. Well, then that's going to just keep
their street levels down and then they just have to
worry about the job at hand. But you know, it
(04:33):
is really really important. We've got a food area set
up downstairs in the in the team room where they
can just come and get snacks, you know, food from
home that they know.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
It's that they can eat on a daily basis.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
It's not going to react with them, for instance, although
the food here is absolutely amazing, I must say, but
you know, save them.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Walking, for instance, to the food hall.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Just providing those little things, you know that just a
bit of the key we arena and things like that,
just to make them feel at home.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
So yeah, it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Yeah, just tell us some numbers wise, how many athletes
do we have?
Speaker 3 (05:10):
So we've got twenty five athletes over eight sports and
it's the first time we've had so many sports, so
it's very very cool.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
We've got a very diverse team.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
We've got athletes from her based in America, We've got
obviously athletes in New Zealand. We've got one of our
athletes who is a former Paralympic medalist for Germany who is.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Now representing New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
And we've got a support team around them of another
well twenty something twenty eight odd people, so we've got
a full team of around about sixty one plus.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
We've got support from.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Paralympics New Zealand CEO and cheer outside. We've got support
from High Performance Sport in New Zealand and Steve Chu
so it's pretty cool. It's really good to see we've
got the Minister of Sport arriving in for a couple
of days. It's the first time we've had we've had
a Minister of Sport at the Paralympic Games.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Is there's a lot of first for this team.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
There's a lot of new things for this team. So
it's a huge honor for me to be able to
be leading this team as chef to mission. I haven't
been involved with so many campaigns, as you say, but
just being able to bring a little bit of uniqueness
into this campaign that some of our well seasoned campaigners
won't have experienced in their previous campaigns.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Ah Well, I know, Rayleen, having known you that they
all be very well looked after. They've got a great
person in charge, and we wish everyone all the very
best in the coming days. And thanks very much for
joining us this morning. And you try and enjoy yourself too, Railey,
knowing you've got all these responsibilities.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Thanks so much, Craig. Hopefully we can do the nation proud.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Absolutely you certainly will. In a thrailing in charge. They
are being lead very very well. Appreciate her time. It
is fifteen minutes past eight. We'll talk some weather next
year on the Country Sport Breakfast
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