Smith DamienDAMIEN SMITH (ACT): Thank you Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of the ACT Party as sports spokesperson. Initially we'd like to offer our sincerest condolences at the sad passing of Olivia Podmore who was our Olympic athlete in 2016 and a Commonwealth Games cyclist. ACT offers and I'm sure the House does Olivia's family heartfelt condolences. We've seen at the Olympics and in life there's sacrifice and a price for triumph and tragedy. So I'd just like to take a moment to say: rest in peace Olivia Podmore Olympic athlete No. 1333. We wish the best to the Paralympians who are coming up shortly. We congratulate the nation of Japan and like the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition we'd like to point out what a great games it's been for both sexes and in particular Lisa Carrington who topped Ireland—what the hell's going on in Ireland?—Georgia Turkey just by herself. Her three golds alongside Caitlin Regal's also matched the whole of Spain Sweden Denmark and Belgium leading us to 13th in the medal table on a per capita basis. So congratulations to everyone. Somebody a Stuff reader actually wrote that for all the nations that have never hosted an Olympic Games New Zealand came out on top which I thought was a sort of interesting statistic. And I'd like to congratulate the Minister and High Performance Sport and the Olympic Committee on exceeding targets for medals by four over what was anticipated in the strategic plan and in the funding document. All these athletes have been supported by friends and families and their local communities businesses private patrons New Zealand Olympic Committee and High Performance Sport New Zealand and I think having led some university initiatives in the sports field the Chef de Mission i.e. Rob Waddell must be congratulated for continuing the legacy of our Olympic teams. The New Zealand Olympic Committee was established in 1911 and more than 60 teams have crossed the globe in those years on Olympic and Commonwealth Games crusades. It was Baron de Coubertin founder of the modern Olympic movement and manifesto who made the case for his vision of how a modern Olympic Games could help build a better world through sport and promote world peace. As for sports in general he said I do not know what its fate will be but I wish to draw your attention to the important fact that presents two features: it's democratic and it's international. The first of these characteristics will guarantee its future and anything that is not democratic is no longer viable today. As for the second it opens unexpected prospects to us." ACT still believes these are good values to aspire to and we hope to see them in Paris in 2024.For me personally one of the deeper moments of the games was when Dame Valerie Adams was named to carry the flag at the closing ceremony. She said "It's an amazing Games for us and I'm looking forward to walking out there with pride and holding the flag up as high in the sky as I possibly can." And to conclude there was a great quote from a New Zealand TV journalist who said that when given the opportunity New Zealanders are great at gold and silver mining and that royalties should abound. So here's to Paris in 2024 and congratulations to everyone involved."