Nelsen (pictured) captained New Zealand four years' ago in Beijing, when the country crashed out in the opening round after drawing with China and losing to Belgium and Brazil on its Olympic football debut, as well as leading the team at the World Cup in 2010.

In South Africa the All Whites finished unbeaten and above then reigning world champions Italy, though they exited at the group stage.

He will be one of three over 23-year-olds New Zealand is allowed to take to London following the announcement of a group of athletes whose selection was confirmed today, with 100 days to go until the start of the Olympic and Paralympics this summer.

"The experience of Ryan Nelsen, along with two other overage players, in a squad containing at least five other current All Whites means the men will be able to field an exciting young line up of players now earning a living in leagues around the world," said New Zealand Football chief executive Grant McKavanagh.

Ideally those two players will be Perth Glory forward Shane Smeltz and West Ham United defender Winston Reid, said Neil Emblen, the New Zealand men's coach.

"Shane Smeltz is in great form," he said.

"I have always admired him.

"Although we have three to four other strikers in the All Whites frame as well, he's definitely a player I am looking at.

"Winston is back and playing at a high level.

"Those are the other two players I would really like to get."

New Zealand qualified last month for the Olympics after beating Fiji in the final of the regional qualifying tournament which they hosted in Taupo.


Smith (pictured), another defender plying her trade in Europe, was nominated for the women's FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2007 and picked up the prize for the best player in New Zealand in the same year.

She captained the country at their second and third World Cup appearances, in China four years' ago and in Germany last year.

The women qualified recently with a resounding 15-0 playoff victory over Papua New Guinea, and unlike the men do not have to worry about age restrictions.

Like the men, however, the women were unable to make an impact in Beijing four years' ago, exiting at the group stage after picking up a draw with Japan and losing to the eventual champions United States and Norway.

Women's coach Tony Readings is looking to win a medal this time though and the team showed its ability in February when they almost beat reigning Olympic champions and 2007 World Cup runners up the US, who looked unbeatable during the North American qualifiers.

"That's how we are preparing, to be in and among those medals," said Readings.

"I would rather prepare that way and be wrong than not prepare that way.

"For us, we were so close to beating America who are number one in the world.

"If we can win those sorts of games, we could be playing for a medal."

Kereyn Smith, the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) secretary general and selector, said: "Based on the significantly enhanced programme for the Football Ferns and their improving ranking internationally, as well as the performance of the All Whites at the 2012 World Cup, the New Zealand Olympic Committee and Football NZ are looking to both teams making a mark on the Olympic competition."

The draw for the Olympic football tournaments will be made at Wembley next Tuesday, and New Zealand's final 18 player squads for both tournaments will be announced on June 15.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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