Olympian and five-time Commonwealth Games medallist Nigel Avery is pledging to bring further focus to athlete wellbeing in his role as New Zealand Team Chef de Mission for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Avery, a former New Zealand representative in weightlifting, athletics and bobsleigh replaces Rob Waddell, who stood down as Chef de Mission following the Tokyo Olympics.
The 54-year-old began his elite sporting journey in shot-put and triple jump, but injury cut short his athletics career. He then turned to bobsleigh and was in the national squad from 1991-96 before discovering a love for weightlifting.
Avery went on to compete in weightlifting at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, as well as the Kuala Lumpur and Manchester Commonwealth Games where he picked up five medals, including two gold. His outstanding performances and leadership in Manchester saw him carry the New Zealand flag at the closing ceremony.
Since then, Avery has remained involved in sport through Governance and coaching roles, notably as Auckland Weightlifting President from 2004-2008, and as Millennium Institute of Sport & Health High Performance Manager from 2003-2008.
Avery also led the New Zealand team to the Sydney Youth Olympic festival as Chef de Mission in 2007 and was a member of the NZOC Athletes' Commission from 2002-2008.
"I'm thrilled to be named Chef de Mission for Birmingham, it's an amazing opportunity," said Avery.
"I'm really looking forward to contributing to the success of the New Zealand Team as a whole, I've had loads of people support me during my career so the opportunity to give back is pretty awesome."
"It's about helping people succeed, so for me it's all about the athletes and the structures we can put in place around them to ensure they're supported and to optimise their performance".
Avery is passionate about athlete wellbeing and is pledging to put even more focus on supporting athletes as they work towards Birmingham.
Nigel Avery Photo: Photosport
"Athlete wellbeing is an area that I want to bring even more of a focus to," said Avery.
"I believe if athletes are empowered through an environment where they're needed, wanted, embraced and nurtured, their wellbeing and performance should be fantastic as a result. The safety, health and wellbeing of our athletes is our number one priority as a leadership team."
NZOC CEO Kereyn Smith says Avery will be an outstanding Chef de Mission.
"Nigel brings an extensive background of sports experience across various codes and roles, always with a strong interest and focus on athletes, their performance pathway and wellbeing," said Smith.
"He has all the leadership qualities we are looking for to lead a large and diverse team to Birmingham in these complicated covid times, having considerable leadership and management experience in New Zealand and overseas.
Around 240 New Zealand athletes are expected to compete in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games which will be held from 28 July - 8 August 2022.