By Europe Correspondent Melissa Davies
As hundreds of thousands of fans from all around the world file into King's Cross station to get to Olympic Park the smell of a barbecue will waft over them from Kiwi House.
The café and outdoor seating is yet to be built, but the menu is already locked in and it will showcase the best in New Zealand food, cooked by one of our best-known chefs, Peter Gordon.
“There will be sausages because I think they're very good actually,” says event creator Melissa Gilmour. “It will be a combination of gourmet and home-cooked. Muffins, sandwiches, fruit salad - the twist will be in marinating the lamb venison in gorgeous spices and different bits and pieces.”
But Kiwi House will be more than just a place to brag about our culinary skills, it will be a hub New Zealand supporters, friends, family and the athletes themselves who will - hopefully - stop by to show off their medals.
National houses are a traditional part of the Olympics and each country has a headquarters dotted around London for the period of the games. To get Kiwi House up and running it has largely been thanks to expats in the city putting their heads and money together. The New Zealand Olympic Committee is also helping, but the Maori Tourism Authority is the only Government partner of Kiwi House so far.
And while some countries are spending millions, New Zealand is relying on a tight budget and plenty of goodwill.
“It's a make-New-Zealand-proud campaign and I think from a London perspective there's a lot to be proud of so hopefully we will achieve that and it will be a legacy project - hopefully the Government will look at it in the future and see these things are a good way to spend money,” says Ms Gilmour.
When the event kicks off Kiwi musicians like Hollie Smith will entertain the crowds so all that is missing now are some medals to give the New Zealanders a reason to celebrate.
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