As patron of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, and as the New Zealand team’s chief cheerleader, Dame Cindy is in Paris with Dr Davies to support the 200-strong team of Aotearoa’s athletes competing at the 2024 Olympic Games. This marks 100 years since the last time the Olympics were held in Paris, which coincidentally is where Sir Arthur Porritt, our only Governor-General who was also an Olympian, won bronze in the 100m sprint.
Dame Cindy and Dr Davies were welcomed to the New Zealand team base for a ceremony to name the Te Pou Hāpai (flag bearers) to lead our team down the Seine River during the opening ceremony, followed by a reception hosted by President Macron for Heads of State and Government. The flag bearers wear a kākahu each – Te Māhutonga and Te Hono ki Matariki – the creation of which was led by master weaver Ranui Ngarimu. As a special connection, Ranui is both the New Zealand Olympic Committee’s kuia, and is one of Dame Cindy’s kuia.
Once the games began, Their Excellencies have been cheering on the team at the many historic locations the games are being held, including equestrian eventing at the Château de Versailles, and tennis at Roland-Garros. NZOC Chef de Mission Nigel Avery gave Their Excellencies a tour of the New Zealand base at the Olympic Village, where athletes live, train and recover during the Olympic Games. Dame Cindy and Dr Davies ended their time supporting our Olympians in the best way possible, watching our mighty Black Ferns win NZ’s first medal – a back-to-back Olympic gold medal in front of 66,000 people in Stade de France, and celebrating the triathlon team’s success after their race.
For more photos, click here: Paris Olympics 2024 media gallery.