Chris Simpson, who is playing in the over-40 basketball at the Games, was hired in 2009 to do a feasibility study of the possibility of getting the event to New Zealand.
That involved the 51-year-old looking at a wide range of factors and, ultimately, determining whether the country could host the Games. Those factors included the number of people involved, past hosts, a likely budget and the risks involved.
"At the time the World Masters [Games] was being held in Sydney," Simpson said.
"So I had about a week over there looking at how it all ran.
"Then sort of did this feasibility study, which looks at everything from workforce to marketing strategies to budgets.
"Then, also, whether we had the capacity to cater for an event this size."
Originally, three regions were considered as hosts. Wellington, alongside Dunedin and Queenstown, had been possibilities, as well as Auckland.
It became apparent that only Auckland was large enough to cater for the number of people and a bid was put together from there.That bid was successful and the Games were opened last Friday and run until Sunday.
Simpson’s involvement is now limited to playing in the Games and he was enjoying being part of it.
"It’s fantastic and the really nice thing for me, because I’m normally involved with the delivery of the events, is that I’m actually playing in it and it’s good fun.
"I’ve got nothing to do with the delivery now. It’s all being run by the local organising committee.
"It seems to be going really well. I just love the atmosphere and camaraderie and everyone getting into it."
Simpson attended Logan Park High School and played 54 games for the Tall Blacks from 1986-1994.
He returned to Dunedin to play for the Otago Nuggets in 1996, his last year in the NBL, and was also the team’s general manager that year.
The point guard remains heavily involved with the sport both on and off the court, playing in the A grade club competition on Auckland’s North Shore.
His Silver Foxes team at the Games has a southern flavour to it: it also includes Otago players Andrew Parke, Dean Ruske, Hamish Edgar, Markham Brown and former Otago All Black and Black Cap Jeff Wilson.
Simpson, Parke, Konrad Ross and Brad Riley give the team four former Tall Blacks.
Having won its first two games, it was preparing yesterday for a grudge match against a fellow Kiwi side that included the brother of NBA player Steven Adams.The finals will be held this weekend.
