Olympics: Australians betting on NZ to win nothing

By ALAN PERROTT

Triathlete Bevan Docherty may be the TAB's New Zealand favourite to win Olympic gold, but Australia's Centrebet is offering reasonable odds on this country returning from Athens emptyhanded.

The Australian agency has the New Zealand team at $26 to return with nothing more than photographs and a tan.

But its odds of $3 do generously suggest this country is likely to win seven or eight medals, of any colour.

In contrast, it is positively bullish about Australia's chances and has offered a paltry $2 on its team hauling in more than 13 golds.

The New Zealand TAB is offering punters the chance to bet on five Olympic sports, cycling, tennis, basketball, soccer and triathlon.

TAB spokesman Ken Rutherford was hopeful of other sports deciding to allow betting. "It's in the balance to be fair, I wouldn't be overly confident," he added.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee has recommended sports competing at Athens do not open themselves up to betting.

NZOC secretary-general Barry Maister has said allowing betting is "at loggerheads" with Olympic ideals, despite his organisation accepting funding from gaming machines.

The TAB can only offer odds on sports with a single national body which is then eligible to a slice of the profits.

Odds have not been released on all five sports, but the agency has made world champion Bevan Docherty favourite for the triathlon gold ($3.50), followed by Hamish Carter at 9th ($15) and Nathan Richmond at 18th equal ($100).

The New Zealand men's basketball team are not given much hope with a miserly $1.11 offered on the Tall Blacks finishing between 9th and 12th, and $500 on them winning gold.

But that support is flattering in comparison to the $2000 on the women's team winning gold.

Roger Federer of Switzerland at $1.75 is favourite to win the men's tennis.