Athletics Otago has been thrown a lifeline and will apply to hold the New Zealand track and field championships in 2016 and 2017.
It was originally thought the pre-Olympic championships in 2016 would be held in Auckland because it would be easier to get television coverage of the event. Sky Television is based in Auckland and it would be expensive for it to move equipment to cover the championships in Dunedin.
This was the impression Athletics New Zealand's community and participation manager Michael Sharapoff conveyed when he spoke to Athletics Otago last month.
Wellington has been allocated the championships in 2014 and 2015.
Athletics Otago has received a letter from the Athletics New Zealand competitions and events manager Will Stewart that clarified the position on the track and field championships' future allocation.
''The 2016 championships have not been allocated,'' Stewart wrote.
''Initial letters of interest are welcomed from any region but a formal application process will not begin until early 2015.''
Athletics Otago president Dave Richmond is pleased the 2016 championships are still open to all centres.
''At the next Athletics Otago Centre meeting we will apply to hold the championships in 2016 and 2017,'' Richmond said yesterday.
Otago last held the championships in 2011. Since then, they have been held in Auckland in 2012 and 2013 and allocated to Wellington for the next two years.
''We run the best organised track and field championships in the country,'' Richmond said.
In his letter, Stewart said ''in 2012 Athletics New Zealand moved to a preferred two-year cycle of hosting the track and field championships within a region.
''It provides the opportunity to build stronger support relationships with councils and sponsors and allows for a more structured process for feedback and growth at an operational level.''
Richmond hopes Athletics New Zealand sticks to this policy and does not change the rules.
Stewart said there were 17 all-weather tracks in New Zealand ''and all of these cities or towns will be eligible to host the event. All applications will be considered on their merit and in comparison to all other applicants.
''We want to expose our sport to individuals who don't normally interact with it,'' Stewart wrote.
