Paralympic gold medallist Adam Hall is in hot demand, with
both Dunedin and Wanaka planning to honour him with civic
receptions.
Hall is not due back in New Zealand until April 6 but his
diary is already starting to be filled.
The champion skier has ties across Otago: he was raised in
Outram, where his parents still live, and educated at Taieri
College, and he now spends the New Zealand winters in Wanaka.
Dunedin City Council communications co-ordinator Rodney
Bryant said Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin, who knows the Hall
family, was "very keen" to honour the standing slalom gold
medallist with a civic reception.
The council would wait until Hall came home to arrange the
reception, as Hall would effectively be able to invite whom
he wanted.
Wanaka Community Board chairman Lyal Cocks said he had talked
with other board members, Queenstown council staff and
Cardrona skifield staff on Wednesday and all agreed it was a
good idea to have a civic reception for Hall when he returned
to New Zealand.
The next step was to find someone to organise the event,
which Cr Cocks hoped to do next week.
Cr Cocks said he had not yet been able to talk to Hall or his
parents but hoped the family would appreciate the gesture.
"We are proud of his achievements.
"It is good for Wanaka and we can show our pride in him," Cr
Cocks said.
Long-time family friend Rosie Sidey is co-ordinating the
welcoming party for Hall's arrival at Dunedin Airport on
April 6.
Hall has two more events at the Winter Paralympics: the super
G tomorrow and the super combined on Monday.
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