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Wednesday 11 July, 2007 Welcome to the 'Road to Bangkok' This is the first of 3 newsletters over the next 3 weeks for members of the NZ team competing at August's World University Games (WUGs) in Thailand. The newsletters will offer information on the Team, the Games, Thai culture and Bangkok. This has also been sent to others connected with the Team. NZ Team Finalised and Announced University Sport NZ recently announced the the full NZ Team that will compete in Bangkok - click on NZ Team Selection for full details and the media release. 
USNZ is delighted to announce a new partnership for the NZ Team at this World University Games with Crocs Shoes, makers of the new footwear sensation which mix the comfort of clogs with a space age, non-slip resin material. Crocs will supply their shoes to all members of the NZ Team at the Games; NZ is the only nation to benefit from such a partnership with the growing American company. NZ Captain Appointed - Moss Burmester 
USNZ has appointed Swimming's Moss Burmester to be the Team Captain in Bangkok and to carry the flag at the Opening Ceremony on 8 August. Burmester, a Massey Auckland student, competed at the 2005 WUGs in Turkey before winning gold in the 200m butterfly at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Click on Team Captain for media release.
Chef de Mission - Martin Macdonald 
Martin is the NZ Team's head of delegation or 'Chef de Mission'. This is his first WUGs and he is looking forward to the challenge of leading a large NZ team at a major global event. He is a Wellington based businessman with 3 sons who comes from an athletics background, both as a competitor and team manager.
Bangkok is a one of the largest cities in the world with a population of 10 million. It is a huge, sprawling city set on the delta of the Chao Praya River - it is completely flat so you won't see a hill while you are in Bangkok! It has major traffic problems but the Games transport will use the city's expressways which will make travel easy. While the Thais are amongst the world's friendliest people, Bangkok has several personal security issues; all members of the NZ Team will be addressed on these issues shortly after their arrival by the NZ Police officer based in the NZ Embassy in Bangkok. 
Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej has reigned since 1946 and is the world's longest serving head of state. The Thais are hosting the Games to celebrate his 80th birthday. The King is universally adored in Thailand, many would say almost deified. You should not under-estimate the reverence in which he is held - on Mondays all Thais wear yellow shirts (the colour of the monarchy), his image covers most office blocks and street poles and Thais would NEVER speak ill of him, even to their closest friends. In any case it is a criminal offence to do so, even as a joke. 
Zane Meehl, a member of the 1st NZ men's basketball team to compete at these Games, recently won an important award for his performance in the Queensland Basketball League. Click on Zane Meehl for more information.
Admin Reminder 1 - Passport & Flights Remember to check that your NZ passport is current and has 6 months' validity remaining from the end of the Games. NZ passport holders do not require a Visa to enter Thailand, assuming their stay is for less than 1 month. You have all received your flight details where these have been booked by USNZ. Please let USNZ know urgently if you require special meals on your flights. Bon voyage and good luck to the Athletics team who (with the exception of US-based Max Smith) depart NZ for their first training camp in Queensland on Monday 16 July. Two of the team (Monique Williams & Andrea Miller) will then head to the UK and will re-join their team-mates for the second part of their preparation in Singapore before transferring together into Bangkok on 4 August. Tickets for Family and Friends If you have family or friends coming to Bangkok to support you and wish to know about purchasing tickets, direct them to the following website - www.thaiticketmaster.com/sport/universiade07_eng.php Some sports have no costs to get in (although most do) and there are passes covering the whole Games including the Ceremonies. Golden Moments at the World University Games - No.1 In 1983 (Edmonton) Anthony Mosse won NZ's first ever medal at a World University Games when he came 3rd in the 200m Butterfly behind reigning Olympic gold medalist Sergei Fesenko (USSR) and current Commonwealth Games champion Phil Hubble (England). He then finished 5th in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. In 1985 (Kobe) Mosse won silver in the same event behind 1984 Olympic champion Michael Gross (West Germany). He won his first major gold at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1986. In 1987 (Zagreb) Mosse won New Zealand's first ever gold medal at a World University Games winning the 200m Butterfly despite swimming with a herniated disc. He also won a silver medal in the 100m Butterfly before going on to win a bronze medal in the 200m at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and then Gold again at the 1990 Commonwealths in Auckland. New Zealand did not win another medal at the Games until 2005. |
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