Blake awarded posthumous Olympic Order

1.00pm

LONDON - New Zealand yachting hero Sir Peter Blake was posthumously awarded the Olympic Order on Saturday, one of the highest awards given by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in recognition of his services to the sport.

Sir Peter was murdered aged 53 in December by pirates who boarded his boat while it was moored in Brazil's Amazon river.

The presentation was made at Emsworth Sailing Club by former King Constantine of Greece and accepted by Sir Peter's wife Pippa. Sir Peter was buried in Emsworth, the town where he lived with his family.

"Sir Peter was an incredibly impressive man," said King Constantine, an honorary IOC member.

"Through his sheer skill and determination, he had succeeded at the top of our sport. He was a man who inspired people, sailors and non-sailors alike," he told the America's Cup website.

Sir Peter was one of the most successful yachtsmen in history after twice leading New Zealand to victory in the America's Cup. He sailed in five Whitbread round-the-world races and in 2000 formed Blake Expeditions to educate and encourage people to protect life in and around the sea.

- REUTERS

Peter Blake, 1948-2001