Snow stars swoop in for Winter Games NZ
18 Aug 2009
The record-breaking 2009 winter season that’s kept New Zealand ski resorts humming is set to ramp up as the inaugural 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games get underway this weekend.
Six winter sports destinations in the New Zealand’s South Island will host the high profile international snow and ice show - the biggest winter snow sports event outside the Winter Olympics - from 21 to 30 August.
Hundreds of top sports stars representing 30 nations have signed up to compete in 24 snow sports, including ski racing, curling, snowboarding and skating.
Opening ceremony
Queenstown - New Zealand’s adventure and snow sports capital - is gearing up for the outdoor spectacle that will launch Winter Games NZ on Friday (21.08.09).
The opening ceremony, in downtown Queenstown, will begin with a traditional Māori powhiri welcome for international visitors. A group of skydivers will drop in and there will be a fan fare of local school children representing the competing nations.
Flag-bearers will arrive by jet boat - an appropriate local touch from the town that invented the jet boat.
New Zealand’s Governor-General, the Hon Sir Anand Satyanand will formally declare the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games open.
Games atmosphere
Winter Games CEO Arthur Klap said the opening ceremony’s mix of formal procedures and fun would be in-keeping with the atmosphere the Games were trying to create.
"With more than 800 athletes from 30 countries here in Otago, we’re sure to see some serious competition hosted in a typical Kiwi carnival atmosphere," said Klap.
"We’re honoured the Governor-General will formally open the first ever 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games - a recognition of its international importance for the country."
International athletes
Competitions, which begin on Saturday, will provide the major run-up to next year’s Winter Olympics. Participating athletes include Olympic medallists, and world champions of skiing and snowboarding.
Top Olympians will include the two current world snowboard number ones, Jiayu Liu (China) and Ryoh Aono (Japan). Freeskiers include X Games gold medallist Anna Segal (Austria), and X Games silver medallist Jossi Wells (NZ).
Other stars confirmed include five-time Olympic medallist Anja Paerson (Sweden), four-time Olympian Jenny Owens (Australia), Kajsa Kling (Swedish national champion - giant slalom, super G, downhill), Fabienne Suter (Switzerland - super G), Chandra Crawford (Canada), Hiroomi Takizawa (Japan), and Australian halfpipe snowboarders Nathan Johnstone (world number two), and Holly Crawford (runner-up 2009 World Championships).
Winter Games NZ will also make history as the first elite snow sports event to allow able-bodied, and athletes with a disability, to compete together in alpine skiing and cross-country skiing disciplines.
The Games have attracted some of the world’s best adaptive athletes, including strong representation by the German and British Paralympic teams.
Southern Alps ski resorts
The 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games will take place in six locations, including the Southern Alps ski resorts of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona Alpine Resort and Snow Farm; Naseby and Dunedin.
Competition events include alpine skiing, free skiing, x-country skiing, snowboarding, curling, ice skating and adaptive snow sports, and two demonstration sports - winter triathlon and natural luge.
Winter Games NZ is due to finish with a spectacular closing ceremony featuring aerial skiing and snowboarding in front of more than 5,000 spectators and a live television audience at Queenstown’s Coronet Peak on 30 August.
More information:
Winter Games NZ 2009
Central Otago
Dunedin - Coastal Otago
Lake Wanaka
Queenstown
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