Olympic hero faces off with own chocolate portrait

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

7 July 2012

New Zealand Olympic hero faces off with own chocolate portrait at
Cadbury Chocolate Carnival launch

New Zealand Olympic hero Danyon Loader came face-to-face with a chocolate version of himself at today’s launch of the Chocolate New Zealand Olympic Hall of Fame – the newest attraction at the 12th annual Dunedin Cadbury Chocolate Carnival, 7-13 July.

The Hall of Fame celebrates the achievements of our 65 New Zealand Olympic gold medallists with 31 portraits created in Cadbury chocolate by renowned UK chocolate artist Prudence Staite.

The portraits have been launched by Loader, a former Dunedin resident and double gold medallist for swimming, during the gala opening of the Carnival this morning at Meridian Mall. The public is invited to view the portraits and stand on the Cadbury chocolate podium at Meridian Mall throughout the entire week.

While the exhibition launches the Carnival from the starting blocks, it also celebrates Cadbury’s official support of the New Zealand Olympic Team.

“Cadbury is a proud sponsor of the New Zealand Olympic Team in 2012, so we’re excited to present this delicious dedication to our past sporting heroes, as well as supporting the endeavours of our new Olympians,” says Cadbury New Zealand Managing Director Alastair De Raadt.

“We hope this tribute at the Dunedin Cadbury Chocolate Carnival will really inspire Kiwis to get behind our team in the next few weeks.”

Keryn Smith, Secretary General of the New Zealand Olympics Committee comments:

“As a not-for-profit organisation, more than 75 per cent of the New Zealand Olympic Committee’s revenue comes from commercial and community partnerships.

“The valuable funds provided by Cadbury New Zealand contributes towards sending our athletes to Olympic, Commonwealth and Youth Games. The London Olympic Games for example, will cost the NZ Olympic Committee some $6 million in travel, accommodation, shipping, staffing and more,” she says. “We are delighted to have Cadbury supporting our proud Olympic team this year.”

During the Carnival the sporting theme will also extend to the famous Cadbury Jaffa Race when, for the first time, specially made black and white coloured Jaffas representing New Zealand’s sporting colours will race down the steepest street in the world.

“The Chocolate Hall of Fame is a great opener for the festivities in Dunedin over the following seven days and the Cadbury Jaffa Race will complete a week of chocolate celebration in the home of Cadbury in New Zealand,” says Alastair de Raadt.

With some 50 events to be run across the week-long carnival, there will be something for everyone – including many free events for families during the school holidays.

“Even better, the Dunedin Cadbury Chocolate Carnival raises much-needed funds for the community. Cadbury is very proud that, as well as attracting tourism and delivering benefits to the local economy, the Carnival has raised nearly $500,000 to date for both local and national charitable causes,” concludes de Raadt.

Parents Centres NZ and Cure Kids are the organisers and the beneficiaries of this year’s Cadbury Jaffa Race and each have the ability to raise $25,000 from the sales of Jaffa tickets before each race. To be held from 12.30pm on Friday 13 July, the amazing spectacle of watching 25,000 Jaffas hurtling down the steepest street in the world attracts thousands of sightseers.

Ends

• At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Danyon Loader won two gold medals in the 200m and 400m freestyle events.

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