Ella going for gold

Ella Nicholas (pictured training at the Lee Valley Olympic course) is part of the Cook Islands contingent competing at the London Games. Here sport minister Mark Brown reports on the team’s travel to London:

”Team Cook Islands arrived in Auckland mid-morning yesterday and, after a short prayer service, team members spent the day trying to stay awake by shopping and walking around before their midnight flight to London via Hong Kong.

The idea was to have the team sleep on the 12-hour Auckland to Hong Kong leg and then stay awake on the way to London.

This would enable them to overcome the jet lag and time difference quicker.

During the quick stopover in Auckland, the team bumped into numerous Cook Islanders, who spotted the strikingly distinctive Cook Islands uniform and came up to offer their support and wish team members well. They were also met at Auckland by relatives and friends. The flight from Hong Kong to London will take 14 hours. The team also picked up swimmer Tepaia Payne and the youngest team member, Celeste Brown, who will turn 18 on August 4, while in London.

Although some of the athletes are admitting to a few nerves, the team’s spirits are very high.

The team is now looking forward to arriving in London and being involved in the flag raising ceremony for the Cook Islands on Thursday, July 26 at the Games Village. Then it will be on to the opening ceremony the following day.“