New Zealand Olympic Gala (2)

  New Zealand has high hopes,since it copped an all-time best medal total 18 medals in Rio. Also, the year 2020 has a special meaning for the country as it marks the 100th anniversary of its independent participation in the Olympics.

  Robertson said that more than 200 athletes are scheduled to join in Tokyo. The number of them is larger than ever before.

  The event was an opportunity for those present to reflect on what success in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic has meant for New Zealand.

  Kereyn Smith, chief executive officer and secretary general of the NZOC, noted the 55th anniversary in October of the first Tokyo Olympiad.

  Smith said, "These were an incredibly important games for New Zealand and helped define who we are as a nation." The New Zealand won three gold medals, two by Peter Snell in the 800- and 1500-meters races.

  Moreover, the 2019 Rugby World Cup was a frequent topic of discussion: All Blacks unexpectedly lost in the semifinals to England. In an onstage panel discussion session moderated by Key, All Brack legends Richie McCaw and Dan Carter joined ex-England captain Mike Tindall, the spouse of Zara Tindall.

  Key ribbeed McCaw and Carter for wearing blue and red ties,respectively, at a black-tie dinner. He said, "Do you think there is something wrong fundamentally with the education system in New Zealand when they can't understand what black-tie actually means at a black-tie dinner. The operative word is black...like the All Blacks!"

  Then New Zealand operatic pop trio Sol3 Mio and Modern Maori quartet performed entertainment in the form of songs, and the group of  music players of Shamisen, the traditional instrument in Japan, performed Tsugaru Shamisen music.  

International Sports Society Chairman Haruhisa Handa (center and clad in kimono)
and former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key (third from right)
with various politicians and athletes
at the New Zealand Olympic Gala 2019



ISPS

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Nov.12,2019）