New Zealand’s Winter Olympics team celebrated Waitangi Day despite temperatures of -11°C in PyeongChang, South Korea.
A group of twenty Kiwi athletes and staff marked the national holiday with a haka as the New Zealand flag was raised at the Athlete’s Village during the Olympics welcoming ceremony. After New Zealand Chef de Mission Pete Wardell exchanged gifts with the host country, the team then joined in dancing with the locals.
Wardell described the special moment: “It was great to see our fantastic athletes enjoy a bit of fun and entertainment here in the Olympic Village”, he said. “Having it all take place on Waitangi Day was a real bonus for our team and our athletes were honoured to acknowledge our hosts with the haka.”
The Pyeongchang Games open on midnight Saturday New Zealand time.
The Team Welcome Ceremony is underway in PyeongChang #EarnTheFern pic.twitter.com/JPWODSahG1
— The New Zealand Team (@TheNZTeam) February 6, 2018
