Winter Games set to garner 50m windfall
Winter Games New Zealand Trust chief executive Arthur Klap said yesterday a Government economic impact assessment conservatively estimated the $4 million to $5 million event to be worth about $50 million to the region.
Organisers anticipate %26quot;modestly%26quot; more than 2000 visitors and spectators to converge on Otago for the event, about two thirds of which will be held on Queenstown and Wanaka skifields. Naseby will stage the curling event and Dunedins ice stadium the ice skating events.
About 700 athletes from up to 30 countries will compete in the tournament to be held from August 28 to September 6 next year, with an opening ceremony likely to be held at Coronet Peaks new base building.
If the mini-Winter Olympics style event were a success it would become biennial.
Olympic committees and winter sports federations from countries around the Pacific Rim, including China, Japan, Korea, Canada, the United States, Australia and even Mexico are backing the concept with European athletes also expected to attend.
New Zealand Olympic Committee president Eion Edgar said the event would accrue amazing benefits for the whole of Otago and Southland.
About two thirds of the economic impact would be felt around Queenstown and Wanaka where all the snow sports would be held.
%26quot;It offers amazing promotion internationally … when you think of the prime countries, they dont come much bigger than that,%26quot; Mr Edgar said.
%26quot;Were really talking substantial TV coverage every day for nine days.%26quot; %26quot;This is not like World Cup cricket or rugby — this is ours — theres nothing given to any international body,%26quot; Mr Edgar said.
%26quot;The great thing is the facilities are all there.%26quot; Delegates from up to 12 Pacific Rim countries will be in Queenstown on March 26 to check the venues for events. They will be hosted by Mayor Clive Geddes, Tourism Minister Damian OConnor and Sports Minister Clayton Cosgrove.
%26quot;The Governments right behind us and we see this as a huge development for winter sport,%26quot; Mr Klap said.
The Government has already contributed $500,000.
Mr Klap said they hoped to announce a %26quot;host broadcaster%26quot; in Queenstown next month to broadcast the games domestically and would then seek an international television deal.
%26quot;What excites me is were creating something from scratch that New Zealand will own and we can repeat it.
%26quot;There will be strong economic spin-offs the first year but they will be even bigger over 10 years,%26quot; Mr Klap said.
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