Entires opened this week for the second Winter Games New Zealand, with organisers predicting about 1000 elite snow and ice sports athletes will attend the August 12-28 event.
Billed as "the southern hemisphere's largest winter sports event", the games were first held in 2009 and attracted a similar number of athletes.
The inaugural games had a budget of $2.2 million and finished with a $19,000 surplus.
A budget of $3.8 million has been earmarked to host this year's occasion and organisers are predicting a regional economic benefit of about $50 million.
Many top ice teams have confirmed attendance, Winter Games chief executive Arthur Klap announced in a media release yesterday.
Korea is sending eight speed skaters, Australia is sending a 16-person figure skating team, and China is sending its ice hockey team.
In curling, the mixed doubles will feature the double world champions from Switzerland, while the women's competition will include the Olympic gold medallists from Sweden.
Curling has also confirmed entries from Australia, China, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Latvia and New Zealand, Mr Klap said.
"It's really good to see countries sending significant numbers of their top athletes."
It indicated that the Winter Games were a valuable competition platform for both the northern and nouthern hemispheres, Mr Klap said.
With the northern hemisphere season over, team managers were assessing summer options.
New Zealand's games offered world-class competition and a valuable launch pad for 2014 Winter Olympic campaigns, Mr Klap said.
Venues are in Queenstown, Wanaka, Naseby, Dunedin and Methven.
The games will also feature a full off-snow festival programme.
About 400 volunteers are needed to help with the event.
