Olympics : Special numbers come up for Otago Olympians

Fourteen Otago Olympians were presented with a pin and personal number to help mark more than 100 years of New Zealand Olympic history at the Dunedin Art Gallery last night. Front row (from left) Alison Shanks, Nina Daniels and Lisa Daniels. Rest (from left): Daniel Mustapic, Sean Becker, Warren Dobson, Mark Vryenhoek, Scott Cameron, Alan Larkins, Michael Ross, Jenny McDonald, Paul Gibbons, Juliane Bray and Jesse Teat. Photo by Jane Dawber.

The Dunedin-based pursuiter was welcomed into an elite club along with 13 other Otago Olympians during a function to mark more than 100 years of New Zealand Olympic history at the Dunedin Art Gallery last night.

New Zealand raised the milestone at the Beijing Olympics in China last year and since the 1908 Olympics in London, 1111 New Zealand Olympians have worn the silver fern.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee, with the help of the Olympians Club of New Zealand, decided to honour those athletes with functions around the country.

New Zealand athletics team manager for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Raylene Bates, presented the athletes with a pin featuring the Olympic rings, the fern and a personal number.

"I'm a bit superstitious, so I think 1085 has just become my new lucky number," Shanks said, shortly after the presentation.

Shanks missed out on a medal in Beijing but has since claimed the women's 3000m individual pursuit world title with a spectacular ride in Poland in March.

"I didn't come away with any memorabilia from Beijing as such, so this will have to do for now.

But, hopefully, in London [2012 Olympics] I'll come home with some [golden] memorabilia."

The athletes also received a commemorative certificate signed by International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and New Zealand Olympic Committee secretary General Barry Maister.

Maister said honouring the Olympians was both timely and important.

"These special people have created history and inspired generations of New Zealanders," he said in a press release.

"Sir John Walker, Mahe Drysdale, Alison Shanks and others make up the fabric of our society and we're proud to honour them within our communities."

The function in Dunedin last night took place as communities around the world observe Olympic Day today, which celebrates the Olympic movement of excellence, friendship and respect.

School children in Auckland and Wellington have been invited to participate in an Olympic Day run and a series of lectures about the Olympic Games.

A New Zealand Olympians Wall of Honour will be unveiled in the Olympic Museum Gallery in Wellington.