Team New Zealand
It's a long way from steamy Beijing to stormy New Zealand. I am sure our departing Olympic athletes are looking forward to some much warmer temperatures.
Next Saturday at 2am our athletes will be marching into the bird's nest - otherwise known as Beijing's Olympic stadium. These historic games begin at 8pm China time, on 08.08.08, which is no coincidence. The number 8 is considered to be extremely lucky by the Chinese and they want all athletes to take this luck with them as they compete in the games.
The Kiwi team will be staying in block No. 8 in the Olympic village, a fact The Listener reported in its latest edition. Their article also talked about the luck of having three 8's in row and noted that my mobile number also has three 8's in row. A lucky omen perhaps?
Last week I flew to Beijing on Air New Zealand's inaugural flight to the capital. Dave Currie, the Chef de Mission for the Kiwi team, was also on the flight and we spent time discussing the excitement of the team and the country. He told me that even though we can't all be at the stadium, he would love to have all Kiwis watching the opening ceremony to be dressed in black to show their support for the team.
I couldn't resist the opportunity to ask him about our medal prospects and, like all good diplomats, he avoided giving me a direct answer and instead told me that 17 of our competitors are ranked in the top three of their field. I can��t wait to watch the action!
While in Beijing, the team and their supporters will also be able to see the Kiwi dragon that's been gifted to the team by the New Zealand Chinese community and is on display in the city. It's hoped this dragon will bring us luck and boost our medal tally.
What makes these games more exciting for New Zealand is our growing relationship with China. At first, Air New Zealand used to have direct flights to Hong Kong six times a week. Then two years ago they started flying three times a week to Shanghai. And now they're flying twice a week to Beijing.
The number of tourists taking advantage of these improved links is increasing. In 1992, New Zealand had 14,100 Chinese visitors. Last year we had 124,000, and this is expected to double in the next five years. I have always been keen to promote New Zealand, something that relates back to my days as an inaugural member of the Tourism Board, now known as Tourism New Zealand. We worked very hard to ensure that China awarded our country official 'tourist destination' status in 1998, which enabled more tourists to come here.
At a reception in Beijing, I was told by a senior executive of the China Travel Service that Chinese tourists are changing, with more affluent people now travelling overseas. In the United States, Chinese tourists are ranked among the high spenders and we have some work to do to ensure we see the same benefits.
I am never one to turn down the opportunity of media exposure, being an overseas Chinese in China, and especially coming from a Western democracy. I used my many interviews to promote New Zealand because the reporters were interested in our open spaces, our stunning landscape, and our unique environment.
However, the environment alone isn't enough to keep people here. On the flight to Beijing there were some Chinese New Zealanders who were moving to China for better opportunities. The Kiwi exodus to Australia is well documented, but other countries are also growing in attraction. I was told that our high taxes, lack of opportunities, and safety issues were the main reasons for them leaving. I impressed upon them the need to make use of their networks in both countries to ensure they don't lose touch.
On the upside, many Chinese New Zealanders are making their mark in China, and I took the opportunity to visit their businesses. Their businesses extend beyond dairy products to include kiwifruit, red pears, wine, management of conference centres, property development, and transport and infrastructure.
So what can our Olympic team expect in Beijing? There were patches of blue sky when we arrived and it was hot, hot, hot. Factories have been shut and carless days for even- and odd-number-plated cars have been implemented to try to clear the air. The traffic was a breeze compared to Auckland! There's a lot of greenery between the airport and the city, which is clean and tidy. Locals are incredibly supportive of the games and don't even mind giving up parts of the underground rail for the specific use of athletes and visitors.
However, their tourism industry was not fully prepared for the stringent security measures that dramatically reduced the number of visas issued. Hotel rates were sky high in anticipation but have been left sitting empty. I am told they are looking forward to an upturn after the games.
Meanwhile, there are endless TV programmes screening past Olympics, lots of coverage of the build-up, and plenty of hype as the Games draw closer. So let's take up Dave Currie's suggestion and stand proud in black as our athletes march into the stadium, and support them during what promises to be an amazing opening ceremony and Olympics.
