KEY POINTS:
Double Olympic gold medallist Danyon Loader says he won't hesitate to exchange his "honorary" role at the Beijing Olympics next year to help athletes along.
Loader is the new face of New Zealand's Beijing campaign.
He was appointed yesterday as Olympic ambassador by the New Zealand Olympic Committee, which launched its Games campaign in Parliament last night.
Loader will accompany the New Zealand team to the Olympics and will be more than willing to mentor and motivate New Zealand athletes.
He said he would be comfortable with both roles, as he is a mentor for New Zealand swimmers and an ambassador for the Government's sports-funding agency Sparc.
Loader described his new Games role as "where I put a face to the upcoming [Olympics] campaign.
"From my past representation in the Olympics, hopefully people can be inspired by what I've done, and I can impart my knowledge as well."
Loader, who won a pair of swimming gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Games, also hopes to influence sponsors on behalf of the NZOC.
- NZPA
