Air NZ sponsors the Olympic team 

Air New Zealand will be flying New Zealand top athletes to the next Olympic Winter Games in Turin in February 2006.

The airline has just renewed its sponsorship contract with the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) for four years.

New Zealand elite athletes will also be flown by Air New Zealand to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March 2006 and to the Olympic Games in Beijing in August 2008.

A team of around 30 athletes and officials will attend the Olympic Winter Games in Turin and a further 370 athletes and officials will fly to Melbourne for the Commonwealth Games, so we really appreciate having the support of Air New Zealand to get the whole team there and back, says NZOC Secretary General, Barry Maister.

In addition, Air New Zealand will also work with the NZOC to launch a scholarship programme for five Olympic athletes to mentor emerging talent.

We are proud to be sponsoring our nations top sporting talent and see this as a fitting compliment to our existing sponsorship of the All Blacks, New Zealand Sevens team, New Zealand Super 12 teams and the Air New Zealand NPC competition, says Air New Zealand Group General Manager Marketing, Network and Sales Norm Thompson.

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