Games on agenda

Next year's Winter Games New Zealand will be a platform for national and international competitors on the road to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Games chairman Sir Eion Edgar says.

He appeared at the Local Government New Zealand conference in Queenstown this week to address delegates from New Zealand's 78 councils about the Games' progress.

Speaking after the conference, he said the ultimate aim was to cement the Games as "the premier winter event outside of the Olympics".

Five World Cup events were confirmed for 2013 and another was expected to be confirmed.

"No other country in the world has six World Cups."

One of the main aims of the games was to attract six of the top 10 competitors in the world to compete in each of those events.

Ice events previously held in Dunedin were cut from the programme and Methven was also cut as a hosting venue.

"When we did the research after, [they] said we'd rather stay in Wanaka or Queenstown so, unfortunately, we had to pull Methven out."

The biennial event was also an outlet for New Zealand competitors to train among the best as they prepared for the Olympics.

Delegates at the local government conference were interested in holding similar events in their regions and inquired how they would do so.

"It wasn't easy to answer because we are in the unique position of having snow," Sir Eion said.

Next year's Games would endeavour to have "a larger downtown programme in Queenstown and Wanaka" to ensure people did not have to travel to ski fields to join in.

Attracting a viewing audience of 756 million people, and with 800 athletes from 41 countries, last year's Winter Games was deemed a huge success for the area and New Zealand.

Sir Eion emphasised the economic benefits of such an event and said domestic visitors were expected to number 2000 and internationals 1500.

This would rise to 5000 for domestic and 3000 international in 2015.

The projected competitor numbers for 2013 are 1000, and 1100 by 2015.