Countdown to London Olympic Games in Wellington

24 July 2012

Countdown to London Olympic Games in Wellington

With just two days before Olympic events begin the Wellington Live Sites are counting down to the action and encouraging people to come together to watch our Kiwi athletes compete for Olympic glory.

The Olympic Live Sites, promoted by Sport Wellington in partnership with the New Zealand Olympic Committee, aim to bring like-minded sports people together to enjoy an Olympic atmosphere and cheer on our New Zealand team members.

Wellington Live Site Olympic coverage kicks off at the Four Kings in Dixon Street, with the Oly Whites playing Belarus at 6.35am on Friday 27 July. Hosted by Capital Football, the event includes current All White and Wellington Phoenix player Jeremy Brockie, at a half time Q and A session. Brockie was a player at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Capital Football also hosts during the Football Fern’s game against Cameroon on 1 August from 6.35am, with Stu Jacobs as a guest (a former All White and coached the Oly Whites at the 2008 Beijing Olympics).

The Olympic Games Opening Ceremony will be celebrated on Saturday 28 July at the New Zealand Olympic Museum at Queen’s Wharf along with a one-on-one football cage, free ‘grill for gold’ BBQ and other activities from 8-11am. The spectacle of the Opening Ceremony will screen live on five large screens at the Museum.

NZ Olympic Museum Director Charles Callis says there’ll be room for many people to join in the celebrations and send messages to the New Zealand team. He encourages visitors to enjoy the Olympic atmosphere at the Museum, cheer on our athletes and send a supportive note. The Museum is open every day 8am – 4pm from 26 July – 13 August.

The ASB Sports Centre in Kilbirnie is Wellington’s Olympic Live Site hub. The centre will host informal live and replayed broadcasts of selected Olympic events, visitors can have a go at various sports and win a Wii from a Wii Olympic Challenge. The Centre is open 7am to 10pm every day.

Community groups, school children, college pupils, sports-mad Olympic followers – in fact everyone – is invited to come along to the ASB Sports Centre, join in the excitement and cheer on our Kiwi athletes competing at the Games.

The fourth Wellington Olympic Live Site is Chicago Sports Bar where Athletics Wellington will host the Women’s Marathon on 5 August at 9.55pm and Men’s Marathon on 12 August at 9.55pm.

Almost 20 of the New Zealand Olympic team of 185 originate from Wellington – including 1500m contender Nick Willis, swimmers Samantha Lucie-Smith, Gareth Kean and Natasha Hind, as well as football, hockey, equestrian, rowing and other athletic competitors.

For more details and times check Sport Wellington’s facebook (Sport-Wellington) and twitter (@sportwellington).

Contacts:

Details of the events at ASB Sports Centre (opening hours 7am – 10pm):

• Continuous public screening of live and replayed coverage of the Olympic Games, from 26 July to 13 August, giveaways and winning time prizes.
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• Wii Olympic Challenge: pits friends against friends in selected sports - sessions during opening hours, staff available to record your scores Monday to Friday 4pm - 6pm and Saturdays and Sundays 12 noon - 2pm.
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• Other specific screenings as the Olympic Games progress.

Get Set Go sessions – Mini athletics activities aimed at improving children’s fundamental skills and increasing their physical activity, through fun and purposeful games and activities. Suitable for 4 - 5 years of age.

Olympic Playtime sessions - These free play sessions provide a fun learning environment for preschoolers, with a bouncy castle, low climbing and soft play activities set up for caregivers and their children. Suitable for under 5 years of age.

Other Live Site coverage:

Four Kings

Capital Football also invites fans to two other pool games for both men’s and women’s football teams:

Men

NZ v Egypt, 29 July 11pm

NZ v Brazil, 2 August, 1.30am

Women

NZ v Great Britain, 26 July, 3am

NZ v Brazil, 29 July, 1.30am

ENDS

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