Big welcome for Kiwi Olympians

RACHEL YOUNG

Last updated 07:55 24/08/2012

Christchurch will be seeing gold when New Zealand's Olympians arrive for today's welcome-home event.

New Zealand Olympic Committee spokeswoman Ashley Abbott said 88 athletes, including 23 of the 27 medallists, would attend the homecoming.

Newly crowned Olympic shot put champion Valerie Adams will miss the event because she is competing in Europe.

Cyclists Jesse Sergent and Sam Bewley, who won bronze in the team pursuit, will miss the event because of international team commitments.

The Kiwi Olympic competitors will fly into Christchurch and ride an open-top double-decker bus to the Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre in southern Christchurch for the noon event.

There will be standing room for about 700 members of the public in the stadium.

The remainder will be able to watch the ceremony on a large screen in the nearby park.

After the ceremony, some Olympians, including medallists Lisa Carrington, Mark Todd and Mahe Drysdale, will travel to nearby Centennial Park to sign autographs, have photographs taken, answer questions and compete against fans in various activities.

Other Olympians will visit fans at schools, hospitals, care facilities and businesses.

Merrin School principal Lisa Dillon-Roberts said pupils were excited to welcome seven Olympians, including medal-winning BMX rider Sarah Walker.

The school has invited everyone on the street to the school for a barbecue, games and an assembly.

Council sports promotions and events adviser Karena Finnie said the council would not be putting on any buses or closing any roads.

However, there will be designated parking for school buses at the event.

The public can park in the Pioneer car park, or if that is full they can park in surrounding streets.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Olympians not attending these engagement activities will remain in Centennial Park to interact with fans. They include:

Medallists: Lisa Carrington, Mahe Drysdale, Mark Todd

Other team members: Cameron Howieson, James Musa, Jenny Bindon, Rebecca Rolls, Darryl Fitzgerald, Lauren Ellis, Jamie Neilson, Stephen Jenness, Debbie Balme, Kyle Pontifex, Melody Cooper, Hayley Palmer, Melissa Ingram, Steven Kent, Brent Newdick, Emma Twigg, Matthew Trott, Ali Shanks, Natasha Hansen, Rushlee Buchanan, Alexis Pritchard, Cameron Todd, Lauren Boyle, Logan Campbell, JP Tobin, John Storey, Sarah Gray, Sussanah Pyatt, Mike Roger, Seah Taylor.

Merrin School, 41 Merrin St, Avonhead

Medallist: Sarah Walker

Other team members: Tim Myers, Neil Emblen, Seamus Marten, Kevin Marr, Shane Archibold, Nathan Handley

Richmond New Zealand Trust Ltd, 115 Grange St, Hillsborough

Medallists: Nathan Cohen, Joseph Sullivan

Other team members: Shane McLeod, Michael Arms, Rebecca Scown

Anthony Wilding Retirement Village, 5 Corbett Crescent, Halswell

Medallist: Caroline Powell

Other team members: Luuka Jones, Annalie Longo, Richie Patterson, Adam Storey

Ronald McDonald House, 33 Cashel St, Christchurch Central

Medallists: Peter Burling, Blair Tuke

Other team members: Robbie Manson, Caroline Brisbois