How many other countries REJECTING invitations to Olympics??? Nice one New Zealand

What theyre too stupid to realise is that by not sending athletes who have qualified,eventually there will be no athletes good enough to send.People will stop trying,not train seriously,leave the sport,or not take it up at all.the sport will dwindle,and die,because no one will want to take it up.dont be suprised if numbers of athletes competing dwindles by half within the next decade.

Well done, you have described track and field!

Couldn't agree more! With no pathway to the top, why would any kid want to take part?

Let's view it from the other angle... NZOC/Swedish OC "thanks for the invite, IOC. We're just going to burn it in front of the athlete as we would prefer no visibility at all in this event on the world stage despite them having satisfied your requirements"

In another New Zealand example, if the all black rugby team weren't ranked number 1 or 2 in the world they would still pick players, they don't just stop playing - this keeps the fanbase engaged, and the pathway for players, who it is worth adding - want to represent their country, open.

The ability to showcase excellence fuels interest, numbers taking part and therefore future excellence.

Fools run these organisations.

Breakfast In Bed wrote:

Feel free to get a hold of their books and verify that they have more than enough resources to send everybody who qualified.

Then they'd have to cut down on their 'officials"

I just hope New Zealand does not let that Male Weightlifter compete against Women. That is sick, terrible, More evil Than Tonya Harding having her husband hit that girl in the knee with a pipe to eliminate her as a competitor (Did Not Work though) Hopefully New Zealanders are not going for that nonsense.

Edward Osei-Nketia one of the 100m sprinters whose invitation was put into the trash - was actually tossing up whether to represent New Zealand or Australia for athletics. Unfortunately for him, he chose to represent New Zealand (where his dad holds the 100m record). If he had chosen Australia, he would be in Tokyo right now.

This is how the NZ Olympic Committee repaid him for his loyalty to New Zealand. An absolute disgrace.

How short sighted from the NZOC - potential face of athletics in NZ eyeing up leaving the sport.

For those outside of NZ, the Crusaders are the most successful domestic rugby franchise in NZ, Aus and Sth Africa competition.