Olympics: NZ athletes carry can for poor Olympic showing

It was almost as if the Sydney Olympics had not happened.

There was not a word of inquiry, not a hint of recrimination, no request to please explain.

The Sports Foundation exonerated itself for New Zealand's poor performance at the Olympics during its annual meeting in Wellington yesterday.

It blamed the athletes for the low medal tally.

Long-standing Olympic selector Bruce Cameron defended the athletes, saying they had given it their best shot , and it was no disgrace to lose to a better athlete, but his was a lone voice.

In fact, it was the only voice from the floor during the 45-minute meeting, except for a vote of thanks to Paul Collins, who left the board after 13 years' service.

About 40 people at the meeting sat quietly as chief executive Chris Ineson ran through a 35-minute address on what went wrong at the Olympics and what was planned for the future.

- NZPA

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