Currie, a former leading administrator in triathlon, first took charge of the New Zealand team at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney and then fulfilled the same role for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002.

 

His first Olympics was at Athens in 2004.

 

He will also be the Chef de Mission for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

 

New Zealand Olympic Committee secretary general Barry Maister  said the appointment reflected Currie’s commitment to creating an environment that helped athletes achieve at Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

 

 

He said: "At Beijing, we saw an environment that inspired athletes to succeed.

 

"It was an environment that was safe, secure and welcoming as well as meticulously organised."

 

 

Currie said: "At Beijing, our focus was creating a high performance, inspirational environment that enabled athletes to succeed."

 

 

"We’ll have a similar focus for Delhi and London and I’m looking forward to the challenges each city and Games will bring."

 

New Zealand finished 26th overall in Beijing with nine medals, including three gold, their best performance since the Barcelona Games in 1992 and meeting their target of winning between eight and 10 medals.

 

But, based on an alternative table of medals won according to the size of a country's population, they finished fourth behind Bahamas, Jamaica and Slovenia.

 

Currie has managed to fulfil his role despite having suffered from bowel cancer that required seven months of chemotherapy.