Former Olympic weightlifter Nigel Avery has been named NZ chef de mission for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Avery, 54, will succeed former Olympic rowing champion and America's Cup sailor Rob Waddell in the role as overall team manager.
"I'm thrilled to be named chef de mission for Birmingham, it's an amazing opportunity," he says.
"I'm really looking forward to contributing to the success of the New Zealand team as a whole. I've had loads of people support me during my career, so the opportunity to give back is pretty awesome.
"It's about helping people succeed, so for me, it's all about the athletes and the structures we can put in place around them to ensure they're supported and to optimise their performance."
Avery was a national triple jump champion, before taking up bobsled and eventually excelling as a weightlifter, winning Commonwealth Games snatch and total bronze medals at Kuala Lumpur 1998, and snatch silver, and clean & jerk and total gold at Manchester four years later, where he carried the NZ flat at the closing ceremony.
Avery also contested the 105kg-plus division at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Since retirement, he has filled roles in sports governance, including NZ chef de mission for the 2007 Sydney Youth Olympics.
"Nigel brings an extensive background of sports experience across various codes and roles, always with a strong interest and focus on athletes, their performance pathway and wellbeing,” says NZ Olympic Committee chief executive Kereyn Smith.
"He has all the leadership qualities we are looking for to lead a large and diverse team to Birmingham in these complicated COVID times, having considerable leadership and management experience in New Zealand and overseas."
