Dunedin City Councillor John Bezett is keen to hold a mini-Masters Games in Christchurch later this year.
"It could be a fun event on a long weekend and include up to 12 sports," Bezett said. "Or it could be a charity event to raise money for Christchurch."
The chairman of the New Zealand Masters Games Executive Committee came up with the idea to give Christchurch people relief from the effects of the earthquakes that have rocked the city since September 2010.
Bezett has not yet discussed the idea with the New Zealand Masters Games Trust or the Masters Games Company.
"We are having a meeting in Dunedin at the weekend and I will bring up the proposal then, to see if there is any interest," he said.
There were 6000 registered entries for the New Zealand Masters Games last night. This was down by 404 from the 6404 people who attended the Games in Dunedin two years ago.
"There has been a marked decline from Christchurch," Bezett said. "This is understandable after the earthquake. They have had a tough time up there."
There were 1000 competitors from Christchurch two years ago and the numbers from that city are down by 430 to 570.
There are 826 people coming from the Canterbury region: 44 from Mid Canterbury, 68 from North Canterbury, 144 from South Canterbury and 570 from Christchurch.
"If my suggestion gets support we may be able to do something for Christchurch later in the year," Bezett said.
The New Zealand Masters Games Company is looking seriously at making a bid to hold the 2017 World Masters Games in Auckland.
"Christchurch is an important market when you look at New Zealand as a sporting nation," he said.
"A mini Games would help us to advertise the fact that we are looking to stage the World Masters Games in New Zealand."
The preparation for this month's games has been done.
"We are on track to hold a quality event," Bezett said. "We also have an impressive entertainment package." The headquarters of the Games is at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
"This is an added attraction for a lot of people," he said. "We looked at the stadium this time because we wanted a point of difference from other games in Dunedin."
The change was made because the University of Otago Students' Association is upgrading its facilities at the University Union at the moment.
Most sports have closed off entries but it is still possible to enter in sports like the half-marathon and the 10km run and walk.
