Olympian Dave Gerrard has helped organise a gathering of Otago-based Olympians to celebrate their status and the achievements at the greatest sports festival on Earth.
Gerrard said Olympic functions had taken place in other places around New Zealand in recent years, always around Olympic Day, near the end of June.
He decided earlier this year something should be done in Otago.
''We have got a good group of people here who have been to the Olympics, especially with all our winter Olympians, and we should do something about honouring them,'' he said.
Other functions took place in centres such as Nelson and Christchurch so he felt Dunedin should not miss out, he said.
Sport Otago got involved and about a dozen Olympians would attend the function at the Sargood Centre at Logan Park tomorrow night.
Gerrard, who has been to nine Olympics in various roles, said it was a prestigious honour to be an Olympian.
''They talk about former Olympians but to me you are always an Olympian.
"You have worked incredibly hard to get to an Olympics and that should be an honour that stays with you for the rest of your life,'' he said.
Dunedin had been home to some of New Zealand's best Olympians, such as Danyon Loader, Alison Shanks and Greg Henderson, he said.
Gerrard said his first Olympics in Tokyo in 1964 was the one that made him an Olympian.
It was 50 years ago that Gerrard competed as a swimmer, and the function tomorrow would also mark 30 years since the games at Los Angeles.
Gerrard said the function might become an annual event, depending on feedback.
Those attending the function included retired synchronised swimmers Lisa and Nina Daniels, mountain biker Kashi Leuchs and former New Zealand women's hockey captain Jenny McDonald, who played at the 1984 Olympics.
Former gymnast Rowena Geisreiter [nee Davis], who was selected for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow but never attended because of a boycott, would also attend.
