WELLINGTON, Feb 11: New Zealand’s athletes may have to pay for part of their own way to the London 2012 Olympics if the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) is unable to make up a funding shortfall, according to a media report.

NZOC President Eion Edgar told a weekly paper in New Zealand his organisation was facing a shortfall of NZ$2.5 million ($1.97 million) in the four years leading up to London 2012 and that they were faced with increased costs as more athletes qualified for international sporting events.

“It’s possible that unless we increase our funding, athletes who want to compete may have to pay part of their own way,” Edgar told the Sunday News.

“At the moment we are in good shape but looking out, if you take the long term view and plan for the next five or six years as any responsible board should, we need to increase our funding. There’s no hiding from that.”

The NZOC were unavailable for comment when contacted on Monday.—Reuters