The facilities at the Christchurch complex were red-ticketed by building authorities yesterday - keeping everyone out - and have been given a low priority to be assessed by engineers.
The park not only housed pools, a fitness centre, two running tracks and a first-class cricket ground, but also was the headquarters of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Academy of Sport South Island (ASI).
Academy acting chief executive Selwyn Maister said the 40 to 50 athletes who worked out of the Christchurch branch had scattered around the country, although many of those moves were only temporary, with some heading to Otago.
"It's very likely that many of them will end up in Dunedin and many of them have probably gone to Dunedin already," he said.
"Dunedin will be a good place to go, with the training facilities. As long as they [athletes] can keep in touch with their coach, then they can be good anywhere."
Triathletes had moved to Wanaka to train, while cyclists had headed to Invercargill, where many of them had already been for the national championships.
It was difficult to tell how long the athletes would live away and he had no idea how long the academy and the sporting facilities at the park would be out of action.
With so many people facing issues with shelter and the basic necessities in Christchurch, it would be almost inappropriate for sport and recreation to get assistance before them, he said.
ASI business manager Raylene Bates, of Dunedin, said assistance had been offered to Christchurch athletes after the quake. She did not know how many came south.
A couple came down for an athletics meeting at the weekend. Many were still waiting to assess the situation in Christchurch before making a commitment.
