By Melissa Davies | 9 months ago

(Reuters)

“The psychology behind sport is fascinating. So many of the Kiwi athletes I've interviewed here prior to their competition say it's headspace that can add those extra milliseconds or centimetres needed to win.”

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By Melissa Davies | 9 months ago

New Zealand men's sprint team compete at the velodrome (Photo: Melissa Davies)

“London feels like a giant Disney park for adults right now. Each Olympic venue takes you on its own emotional rollercoaster – some, not for the faint-hearted. Lucky for me there's no height restriction to get into these rides. All I need is my accreditation pass, which as a non-rights holder lets me into the media zones but does not allow me to film. I can take pictures and tweet though, and hopefully I can convey a little of that atmosphere here for you in words. ”

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By Melissa Davies | 9 months ago

A player from Britain's Team GB women's basketball team removes foot support bandages (Reuters)

“Nick Willis told me the greatest prize he could win at the London Olympics would be to stand on top of the podium while the New Zealand national anthem plays. It is undoubtedly the most emotive prize an athlete could win. To soak in the pride and support of your country must be a truly amazing feeling. Unfortunately the reality these days is that athletes need more than just psychological support from home to reach that podium. The more resources/money an athlete has, the more likely they are to win.”

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By Melissa Davies | 9 months ago

Kiwi's at the barbecue at Kiwihouse in London

“The official Olympic base for New Zealanders in London has been opened in typical Kiwi style. England even put on one of its hottest days of the year for the backyard barbecue celebration which will host athletes, their families and hardcore Kiwi supporters. When you're young and living in London there are few chances to experience what it's like to immerse yourself in Kiwi culture. But the Olympics is one of those chances, a time when Kiwi supporters will come together to create a home haven in King's Cross.”

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By Melissa Davies | 10 months ago

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, tests out a bed during his visit to the 2012 Olympic Park and Olympic Village in London (Reuters)

“London's Summer Games is missing one vital component… summer. So when the sun shone for the first official media tour of the Athletes Village, games organisers must have sighed in relief that it would be seen in all its splendour. Games volunteers were there to welcome the crowd. Clad in matching tracksuits, the ‘magenta magicians’ (as London Mayor Boris Johnson likes to call them) pointed reporters in the right direction and when I say ‘pointed’ that's literally what they did. They stood no more than 50 metres apart from each other wearing those big foam hands I'd associate with American baseball. I wonder if they knew this was the job they'd be allocated when they enthusiastically signed up to volunteer in the Olympics, but they're so smiley and helpful it obviously doesn't bother them.”

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By Melissa Davies | 10 months ago

New Zealand Olympic Team Chef de Mission Dave Currie

“New Zealand Olympic Team Chef de Mission Dave Currie was on hand to check out where New Zealand athletes would be staying during the London 2012 Olympics and his feedback is that he is “very impressed”. Kiwi athletes will be arriving in the Country Zone section of the village from July 16 and what they find should surpass expectations. It’s “somewhat smaller than Beijing,” Currie says, but there are a range of sized apartments to choose from and out of all the villages that he has been in this one is the “most finished, most pleasing”.”

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By Melissa Davies | 10 months ago

Athletes' communal space inside the village

“The London 2012 Athlete’s Village has been officially opened two weeks out from the start of the Olympics. New Zealand Olympic Team Chef de Mission Dave Currie has described the village as the best he has seen. Take a virtual tour through the village and see where the world's best athletes will sleep, eat and relax.”

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