Paralympics: Athletes all keyed up and ready, set, go

By KATHERINE HOBY

Can do. That's the attitude of the New Zealand team who departed yesterday for the Paralympic Games in Sydney, buoyed by a changing public perception of their sporting skills.

Chef de mission Dave Currie said the focus on the team was changing.

"It is great that people are recognising what we can do, not what we can't do," he said.

In a move that copied Les Mills, the chef de mission for the Kiwi team at the Olympics, Mr Currie refused to give a figure for a possible medal haul.

"We are the best prepared we've ever been," he said.

"All we can do is get the components together and the support networks up and running and then it's up to the athletes to do the business."

NZ Paralympic teams have traditionally done well at the Games and Mr Currie said team members were conscious of the proud tradition.

They were a great team to lead, and included some real characters and leaders. The 42-strong team will compete in 11 events.

Mr Currie said he was sure the Kiwis would have something to celebrate at the party after the closing ceremony on October 29.

Wheel Blacks captain Grant Sharman said the team were hungry for success. He expected the wheelchair rugby competition to be the most fiercely contested.

Sharman was part of the team that brought home bronze after the Atlanta Games in 1996. This time he hopes they can bring home a medal of a different colour.

"We will take it one game at a time but we won't be mucking around out there. We'll be out to win."

Flagbearer and team captain Ben Lucas will represent New Zealand in athletics events - the 5000m, the 10,000m and the marathon.

Lucas competed in Atlanta in 1996. He said the team were a mixture of veterans and new athletes. "We're a family, though, not a team."

Lucas knows many of the athletes he will compete against and has his sights set on the finals in his events.

"One step at a time, though. If I get to the finals then it's all on."

The competitors would be hanging flags around the Kiwi compound to spur themselves on.

"We'll also be redecorating to the extent that we'll be wallpapering with the faxes we get," he said.

"The best thing this time is that I feel we are getting recognition as athletes as opposed to as human-interest stories."

Powerlifter George Taamaru said he would do his best to make the final. "Everyone wants to know who's the strongest. It'll be a big event for sure and I'll be doing my best to be there."

* Herald staff Greg Ansley and Nicola Topping will cover the Papalympics, which run from Wednesday until October 29.

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