(ATR) IOC President Thomas Bach spent the day in New Zealand where he has commended the country on its sporting achievements and contribution to the Olympic Movement.
Bach’s two-day stopover started in Auckland where he was greeted with a traditional pōwhiri – a Maori welcoming ceremony.
Accepting the wero (challenge) placed by local iwi (tribe) Ngati Whatua, Bach took part in singing Pokarekare ana in response to the waiata (song) sung in welcome by Ngati Whatua and members of the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
Bach said it was a great honor to be part of this welcome ceremony which he likened to the Olympic Movement itself.
"It was a touching, solemn ceremony and I thank you for this symbol of peace and friendship," he said.
"Like the Olympic Movement, the welcome ceremony signifies peace, friendship and equality and it shows how New Zealanders embrace the same values we do of tolerance and understanding through sport."
On his first visit to New Zealand, Bach was met by IOC Members Barbara Kendall (boardsailing) and Barry Maister (hockey), and he officially opened the nation’s Olympic House, base of the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
"You deserve to be proud of your sporting heritage, your achievements and your passion for sport," Bach said at a media conference. "Thank you for the contribution you make to the Olympic Movement."
Having recently held discussions in neighboring Australia about a possible 2028 Olympic bid, this topic was again on the cards.
Bach commended New Zealand for their recent hosting of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and said that the IOC was open to the idea of any country hosting the Olympics, even small countries like New Zealand.
"You cannot restrict the right to host the Olympics to just 20 countries," he said.
"The Olympic Games are universal and we should open doors and windows. If New Zealand is ready to look into it, we are ready."
New Zealand Olympic Committee president Mike Stanley played down the idea of a bid at this stage, pointing out the significant issues the nation would face in order to hold a Games.
In the afternoon, Bach met with heads of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, Sport NZ and the government.
Continuing his theme from the Oceania National Olympic Committees General Assembly, Bach spoke about the need to motivate young people to be active.
"We can't be satisfied if our youth just watch sport, we need to encourage them to play and reap the benefits that sport provides," he said.
He went on to talk about the IOC’s ongoing fight against illegal doping and betting.
"What are we fighting for? It's for the protection of clean athletes," he said of the $20m fund to support anti-doping and integrity.
He called for international integration in the fight against illegal sports betting and match fixing and it was announced that the IOC and the New Zealand Racing Board would work together to fight irregular betting.
Tomorrow, Bach will head to Cambridge where he will have the opportunity to visit the country’s High Performance Rowing Centre and cycling velodrome.
Written byAlice Wheeler.
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