The Olympic Games Experience

Anna Lawrence ‘ 2000 New Zealand Team Village ‘Accommodation – My Room’, (ground floor) The Games of the XXVII Olympiad Photo: Private Collection Sydney 2000

The Balanced ‘My first Olympic Games participation was at Barcelona Development of Body, in 1992, so I was much more aware as to what it would be like but Sydney 2000 was the most ultimate experience Will and Mind in all of my sporting career. Being older than I was in Barcelona, everything was more real and tangible. Being in Australia, the environment was very familiar and comfortable, we had huge interest and support from ‘home’. Be the best you can be – Olympism Celebrated In The Spirit of Friendship, Unity and Fair Play Photo: Photosport ‘I loved being part of the whole New Zealand Olympic Games Team – meeting the other athletes and realising that we all have similar hopes and fears and different expectations.’ Village Life ‘The Village was brilliant! – very quiet and peaceful. The view from our balcony in the New Zealand Village was the Olympic Stadium – that was really incredible – looking across and knowing that you were going to be competing there. The Village was like a little suburb; it felt like a ‘Little Home.’ All the other New Zealand Team Members were sort of in our ‘neighbourhood’ – ‘down the ‘ (right), (centre / equestrian) road!’. The environment of the New Zealand Team was very special and offered and Kevin Herlihy (softball coach) at the Closing us the opportunity to focus on the task ahead. I loved the day we had a mini Ceremony Party’, Sydney 2000 Photo: Private Collection Olympics on the grass behind the ‘(NZHQ) New Zealand Headquarters’. Lots of athletes from different sports played everything from soccer to rugby to cricket and sat around on the grass just chatting about our amazing experiences.’ The Olympic Games Brings People Together ‘The Dining Hall was really amazing when you walked in there – people from all different countries were wearing their team gear and they have different faces and sizes. You could sit there for hours and trying to work out who that athlete is and where they may be from. Getting to know our New Zealand Team Members was really quite special in itself.’ The joy found in effort – Olympism Celebrated Be The Best You Can Be In The Olympic Spirit Photo: Photosport ‘Things at the beginning went very much to plan – we won or drew the hockey games we needed to – we lost closely some of the games we knew were always going to be close. It was very exciting having such a big crowd watching us and getting the feedback from home that we were generating huge support. Everything was ticking along, close losses, but we were still on track. It was a highly emotional time and when you are physically tired and drained, your mental state has to be right – and certainly, on reflection, it wasn’t right for the last game!’ Closing Ceremony ‘We went to a big function for the New Zealand Team just before we all got together and walked into the Stadium. We were certainly in high spirits and having a good ‘ (left / hockey), Mandy Smith (centre / hockey), Anna Lawrence (hockey), at Pre-Olympic - Sydney 2000 time and it was a wonderful euphoric moment to basically run into the Stadium Function, August, 2000' Photo: Private Collection into one of the four entrances opened up for the athletes. We were determined to put behind us – for a moment anyway – the disappointment of what had gone on and to just enjoy it. There you are rubbing shoulders with all of the New Zealanders and all the medallists from other countries. It’s like a party put on for us! It was a special moment that you can celebrate – being part of the Olympic Experience!’ The Educational Value of Being a Good Role Model ‘I have had some amazing experiences through my hockey and if I can be a good role model, thus encouraging someone to take up sport or to go out for a run or ‘Its All Over! – Partying At Darling Harbour – about to get off the ferry by the Harbour Bridge’ Sydney 2000 to be motivated, then that’s a great way of giving back to society and to individuals. (Left to Right) Caryn Paewai (hockey), (hockey), Anne-Marie Irving (hockey), Anna Lawrence (hockey), Mandy Smith (hockey), Mark Hollands (physiotherapist – cycling) I enjoy seeing kids learning and growing and I like the fact Photo: Private Collection that I can possibly contribute their direction in life!’ Anna Lawrence – Olympian Results Women’s Hockey Preliminary Round Group A Medal Pool Round Drew with Germany 1-1 Lost to Australia 0-3 Beat China 2-0 Drew with Spain 2-2 Lost to Netherlands 3-4 Lost to Argentina 1-7 Beat South Africa 1-0 Finished 6th Overall ‘Sydney 2000, Closing Ceremony – talking on cellphone to home.’ Marion Meates (left / physiotherapist), Anna Lawrence (centre / hockey), Madeline Hernon Photo: Photosport (physiotherapist) Photo: Private Collection