Rumours that the Government has decided not to back
Auckland's bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games will be
confirmed or denied later this week, Prime Minister John Key
said today.
Asked about the rumours, Mr Key said an announcement was
expected this week from Sports Minister Murray McCully.
"This Government put up some resources to allow that work to
take place on the potential for a bid for Auckland. There was
a brief discussion about that at Cabinet today and the
minister is going to have some discussions with that group
later on today as I understand it, and it would be better for
him to make any further comment," Mr Key said.
Last year the Government put up money to assess Auckland's
ability to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The assessment was commissioned by the New Zealand Olympic
Committee and funded by New Zealand Major Events, a unit of
the Ministry of Economic Development, along with government
sport funding agency Sparc and Auckland councils.
Sparc chief executive Peter Miskimmin said last year the
assessment would give more information about the costs and
benefits of holding the Games.
"Hosting a Commonwealth Games would provide substantial
benefits for sport in New Zealand, and potentially major
positive legacies in terms of infrastructure, volunteer base
and participation."
If Auckland decided to bid for the Games, documents would be
filed with the Commonwealth Games Federation in May 2011
before the host city was announced in November 2011.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.