Olympics: Flexibility key to NZ European base

Flexibility will be vital when it comes to setting up European-based training centres for New Zealand athletes working towards the London 2012 Olympics, cycling high performance director Mark Elliott said today.

Sparc chief executive Peter Miskimmin said earlier in the week that the sports funding agency was looking seriously at establishing a New Zealand training base in Europe, and had been using the Beijing Olympics as part of a fact-finding mission.

"We're looking at a European base, so we're talking to countries about what they do in Europe. All sorts of people turn up here, and they've sought us out as much as we've sought them out," he said.

Miskimmin said Sparc would be moving in the next year to sort out the logistics of setting up a training base such as the one the Australians had in northern Italy.

Elliott, who also coaches Beijing bronze medallist triathlete Bevan Docherty, said the cycling squad's southern France cycling base had worked particularly well, especially for the road cyclists. A lot of time had also been spent in Belgium to prepare the track team.

Elliott said it was important to keep different scenarios in mind when it came to making long-term decisions around any European-based training centres.

"Because you have to qualify for the Olympics and sometimes qualifying for the Olympics doesn't mean that being based in Europe is the best option, so you have to be very flexible there," he said.

It was also important to vary training locations, he said.

"It keeps the athletes fresh as well -- if they're always going to the same location, same digs every year, it's just the same old, same old. You're looking for something that will change stimulus, keep them motivated and focused, looking forward."

New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) secretary general Barry Maister said setting up training bases in Europe could prove more cost effective than sending elite athletes to Europe over the New Zealand winter.

"We spend a lot of money and a lot of time getting our athletes over to Europe, training and competing, and I think we need to get a bit smarter about that," Maister said.

"(We're looking at) a base where our New Zealand teams can train and perform over time, not just a one-off. It's about sustained programmes over there -- that's a thing for the future."

Maister said it appeared London 2012 would be a very expensive Games, given the cost of living in Europe and the United Kingdom, and initial discussions had started with Sparc about setting up a training base.

He said there were 12-15 accredited high-performance training centres in the UK "and they're vying for our business like you wouldn't believe".

"UK Sport (the British sports development agency) is putting up some money if we'll go there to train and prepare in the United Kingdom. I think those are the things we have to look at as a way of saving money, as a way of being smart."

He said although the NZOC and Sparc were happy with the New Zealand team effort in Beijing - between eight and 10 medals had been targeted - there was no room for complacency.

"The world is moving on in terms of performance, and if we stay still we'll get further behind. We have to look for another edge. If we don't, if we're complacent and say we're happy with the result, then we will be less happy next time."