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Published: Thursday September 27, 2012 MYT 12:26:00 PM

New Zealand sets bar higher for Rio

WELLINGTON: New Zealand Olympic bosses on Thursday set higher targets for the next two summer Games in a strategic plan looking to build on the 13 medals won at the recent London Olympics.

That was New Zealand's best Olympic result in 24 years, but High Performance Sport New Zealand has set a goal of 14 medals at Rio in 2016 rising to 16 medals in 2020.

"Those are our official targets for the next two Olympic Games," said Alex Baumann, chief executive of the body that oversees the development of New Zealand's elite athletes.

Baumann, a former Canadian Olympic gold medallist, said the preparation that went into the London Games produced "outstanding results" but new targets were needed.

"We need to refine how we operate if we are to continue building on this success, and this strategy represents the next step in the evolution of the high performance system."

An indication of which sports are expected to produce the required results should become clear in December when funding is allocated to various organisations.

In London, five of New Zealand's medals were won in rowing, three in cycling, two in sailing, and one each in athletics, canoeing and equestrian.- AFP

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