Commonwealth Games team defended

The New Zealand Olympic Committee has sprung to the defence of its under-fire Commonwealth Games team, saying they should be satisfied with their efforts in Melbourne.

NZOC secretary general Barry Maister rejected the notion that the 250-strong squad weren't tough enough.

"The NZOC believes that the athletes in all sports were committed to excelling," Maister said. "We did not set medal targets but believed that all athletes, on their day, had a realistic chance of medalling."