MICHAEL R. LAWLER, JR.
Attorney at Law
901 Dover Drive, Suite 101
Newport Beach, CA 92660 USA
949-646-7236
Fax: 949-646-3382
15 August 2008
Hon. Toke Talagi
Premier of Niue
Alofi, Niue
Re: Nuie Olympic Team
Dear Premier Talagi:
I propose that the country of Niue form an Olympic Committee with the goal of putting together the Niue Olympic Team to compete in the 2012 Olympics in London.
As a country, Niue is qualified to enter a team in the Olympics. All it really needs are the athletes and the money, and I have an idea on how to obtain both.
A few athletes would come from Nuie, which would be a source of great pride not only for those athletes but also for all of Niue. However, with Niue's small population, it would be difficult to field a full team of athletes from this island. Most of the athletes would have to come from other countries, and I suggest from New Zealand and the US.
In today's world, it is commonplace to have athletes from one country competing for and representing another country. For example, most of the sailors on the Swiss America's Cup Team are New Zealanders, and many professional baseball players in the US are from Japan and the Dominican Republic. This is also true in the Olympics, so much so that there are rules governing this.
I understand that an athlete from another country could represent Niue provided he or she became a citizen of Nuie at least six months before the start of the Olympics.
This dual citizenship would be easily accomplished for athletes from New Zealand because of Niue's free association with that country (and I understand that Niueans hold New Zealand passports). For athletes from other countries, such as the United States, that would require additional steps with immigration, but I'm confident that could be arranged by the Niuean government and, if required, in cooperation with the New Zealand government.
As a businessman in the tourism industry, I'm sure you can appreciate the tremendous value this would have for Niue from a public relations and marketing standpoint. Millions of people from around the world watching their television sets would see the Niue Olympic Team marching in the Opening Ceremony, with one proud Niuean athlete leading the way carrying the Niue flag, and then in the days following its athletes competing in the various events. As you know, so much of your island's tourism comes from New Zealand, and all eyes from that country would be watching Niue in the Opening Ceremony since the countries march in alphabetical order and the Niue Olympic Team would immediately follow the New Zealand Olympic Team.
I expect the money to cover the expenses of the Niue Olympic Team would come from corporate sponsorships, primarily from companies that do business with Niue, so that the Niuean government would not be financially responsible. After all expenses are paid, any excess funds from these donations could be donated back to local charities in Niue, such as to rebuild the Niue National Museum and for the local schools.
Personally, I would be interested in finding athletes from the United States to compete on the Niue Olympic Team, and my close affiliation with the University of Southern California, which has some of the finest athletes in the world, would provide me with many excellent recruits. Also, as a sailor, I would be interested in competing
in one of the Olympic sailing events as a member of the Niue Olympic Team.
I am now 13 months into a three-year around the world cruise on my sailboat, expected to be back in Southern California in the summer of 2010. This would still provide me with two years to work on putting together athletes from the US when I get back.
I suggest that you as Premier appoint the members of the Niue Olympic Committee.
I would be willing to serve on that committee as Niue's liaison with the US athletes and to solicit corporate sponsorships from US companies.
Please discuss this idea with your Cabinet Ministers and Assembly and let me know if it is something that Niue would like to pursue. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Michael R. Lawler, Jr.