55 replies to this topic

[micheal_warren]

nzolympic, on Nov 17 2006, 02:03 AM, said:

Well not exactly. If we possed such facilities like Ski Jumps, Speed Skating Ovals and Bobslegh track we would hold a complete monopoly on those winter sports in the southern hemishpere. Meaning that any other souther nation wanting to use them would have to come to us. Not only that but northern hemisphere nations would jump at the chance to be able to train during they're summer (our winter). New Zealand is aleady the #1 training destination for Alpine and Cross Country Skiing giants like Austria, Canada, America, Germany, Scandinavia etc. in the southern hemisphere so this would most like only add to that.

Queenstown is the fastest growing region in New Zealand and is expexted to double its population by 10,000 so how knows, maybe by around the 2020's the Souther Lakes region will be poised to but together a bid.
Well i think the South Island will be looking for it's next be event since the world cup is pretty much an Auckland affair and honestly I think the South Island is far better at organizing events than the Auckland region.

i would love to see the southern lakes region host the winter games! But i am worried that we wont be able to afford the infrastucture etc to host the games. But i am sure that if the government and NZOC commit to hosting the games then it can be done. New Zealand is an unique country that would host a wonderful olympic winter games

[The Moose]

nzolympic, on Nov 16 2006, 09:03 AM, said:

Well not exactly. If we possed such facilities like Ski Jumps, Speed Skating Ovals and Bobslegh track we would hold a complete monopoly on those winter sports in the southern hemishpere. Meaning that any other souther nation wanting to use them would have to come to us. Not only that but northern hemisphere nations would jump at the chance to be able to train during they're summer (our winter). New Zealand is aleady the #1 training destination for Alpine and Cross Country Skiing giants like Austria, Canada, America, Germany, Scandinavia etc. in the southern hemisphere so this would most like only add to that.

I would not count on foreign skiers and skaters to finance your venues. The elite is fairly small, and remember that at least major ski-jumping hills are used year-round, and skiers usually train on glaciers. New Zealand is far away, and most athletes prefer to stay at home during the summer after all the winter-traveling.

If I were to give you an advice, I think Roltel has a point. You should start in the small, building winter sport legacy and interest. Don't start with the giant ski-jumping hills, but with 20-30 m hills. Build small and many ice rinks instead of gigantic halls. In the towns and cities (?) that actually have winter, you should spray part of the school yards etc. with water to create cheap skating ice like what is done in Scandinavia. Start nagging the FIS bosses about getting more world cup races in NZ mountains. As far as I know, there has not been any for years.

How many people in NZ live in places with real winter? Just the mountain resorts, or also some cities like Dunedin and Christchurch? Without snow at hand, building a winter sport legacy will be a hard job....

[Rafa]

to answer the question of this thread. no.

[stevie]

Moose fka w.b., on Nov 27 2006, 10:44 AM, said:

I would not count on foreign skiers and skaters to finance your venues. The elite is fairly small, and remember that at least major ski-jumping hills are used year-round, and skiers usually train on glaciers. New Zealand is far away, and most athletes prefer to stay at home during the summer after all the winter-traveling.

If I were to give you an advice, I think Roltel has a point. You should start in the small, building winter sport legacy and interest. Don't start with the giant ski-jumping hills, but with 20-30 m hills. Build small and many ice rinks instead of gigantic halls. In the towns and cities (?) that actually have winter, you should spray part of the school yards etc. with water to create cheap skating ice like what is done in Scandinavia. Start nagging the FIS bosses about getting more world cup races in NZ mountains. As far as I know, there has not been any for years.

I am already well aware of all this, believe me.

Being a small county, New Zealanders are very much aware of what we can and what we cant do. i fact is that it would be very hard for the NZ governent to justify fiancing an winter olympic games in this country due to the fact that there is still a really lack of interest in winter sports in New Zealand. new Zealand would have no need for example ski jumping towers because alot of people here would have no idea what ski jumping is. So i an reasure you that New Zealand is not going to be building gigantic ice rinks or ski jumps anytime soon.

But I know my country and I mnow my people and if you ask me Kiwis are made for winter sports...we just dont know it yet. i mean you will not find a more adventure sport crazzed nation than NZ and lets face it, most spots in the winter olympic games could be classed as 'adventure7 sports. Half the people in this country would jump at the chance to try ski jumping or hertle down a ice track on a skeleton or speed around a ice rink. The sad fact is that we just dont have the oppotunities. Skiing and snowboarding is one of the most enjoyed outdoors activities in NZ but thats all most people see it as, an outdoor activty. I know if more New Zealanders had more access to this sports they would find huge followings here.

The NZOC is well aware of this, that NZ is not ready to bid for a winter games but it is in they're minds and I have been told by them that they are looking to bring more winter sporting events to NZ by 2020. It wond happen over knight but i would much rather see my country do things the smart way then jump into a territory which it is no farmiler with.

Quote

How many people in NZ live in places with real winter? Just the mountain resorts, or also some cities like Dunedin and Christchurch? Without snow at hand, building a winter sport legacy will be a hard job....

There are only two major urban areas in NZ that quite often see snow fall. Christchurch and Dunedin.

Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island with a population of around 360,000. It would probably be the best area to centre a games around with it having decent infastructure. Christchurch International Airport, the second largest in the country, serve as a 2nd hub for Air NZ and handles well over 5 million passangers a year with direct flights to Australia, USA, Japan, Korea, SEA and the Pacific. Many other desinations are linked via Auckland International (which handles 11 million yearly.) It also has a desent sporting infastructure. Just south-west of the city is Mount Hutt ski resort.

The problem with Christchurch is that is ia quite a distance from the Queenstown-Wanaka region, which is the top ski desination in the country and sports the top nordic skiing area in the southern hemisphere (norwiegen team bass). it would be vital to any bid. But this reigon is the fastest gorwing in NZ so come the 2020's a kind of Lillehammer or Albertville style games could be investigated.

NZ can host the winter games but alot of work need to be put in first and it will most likely take a long time but its not a race and i think it is definatly something I will see in my life time. NZ offers the games news life, outside the tradtions of Europe, Asia and North America. Winter sports mixed with NZ's unique cultures, stuning landscape and pacific identy would have for something that the winter games have never seen before......it just we have to get there first lol

[The Moose]

nzolympic, on Nov 27 2006, 04:01 PM, said:

NZ can host the winter games but alot of work need to be put in first and it will most likely take a long time but its not a race and i think it is definatly something I will see in my life time.

I'm looking forward to it, in many ways NZ seems like Norway's twin of the south (4-5 M people, montainous coastal nation). Too bad I did not have time to go there while I worked in Sydney a few years ago....

Edited by Moose fka w.b., 27 November 2006 - 10:14 AM.

[KRATK]

Great news for NZ!
I really hope that the NZOC bid for 2018... this could boost a bid of Santiago in the future... and if it doesn't happen, at least the Southern Hemisphere will have a representative.

Of course, it's not easy for our countries to bring the ice sports when we are not used to them... but sometimes we must start to do it.

BTW... nzolympic, really great song in your signature

[stevie]

KRATK, on Nov 27 2006, 11:10 PM, said:

Great news for NZ!
I really hope that the NZOC bid for 2018... this could boost a bid of Santiago in the future... and if it doesn't happen, at least the Southern Hemisphere will have a representative.

Of course, it's not easy for our countries to bring the ice sports when we are not used to them... but sometimes we must start to do it.

BTW... nzolympic, really great song in your signature

Thanks Kratk, I would love to see a bid from Chile or elsewhere in Latin America. We just dont know how a southern bid will fair untill someone finally puts their hand up.

Oh and your totally right, Octavo Dia is an amazing song...I could listen to Shakira's 'Donde Estan Los Ladrones' all day. Ive become obessed with Spanish and latin music lately, My boyfriend and I are planing a trip to South America is 2008 so ive started begginers spanish classes at my uni.

[KRATK]

Yes... probably the South Hemisphere will not ever host the Games and maybe we will become the Istambul of the Winter Games... but at least we should try... Santiago, Christchurch, Queenstown or Bariloche, I don't know, but I hope that at least one will be in the 2018 race.

"Donde están los ladrones" was such a great disc... with Shakira still as Latin "Ciega sordomuda" and "Tú"... I love that songs... it reminds my childhood. If you come to Chile, visit me Adiós!

[stevie]

Moose fka w.b., on Nov 27 2006, 03:12 PM, said:

I'm looking forward to it, in many ways NZ seems like Norway's twin of the south (4-5 M people, montainous coastal nation). Too bad I did not have time to go there while I worked in Sydney a few years ago....

Well NZ is often called the 'Sweden of the South' with our geography, political system and living standards being very similar to that of the scandinavian nations.

[micheal_warren]

nzolympic, on Dec 3 2006, 08:06 AM, said:

Well NZ is often called the 'Sweden of the South' with our geography, political system and living standards being very similar to that of the scandinavian nations.

good point!