Council to bid for IPC Athletics World Championships

22 June 2007

Christchurch is to make a bid to host the 2010 IPC (International Paralympics Committee) Athletics World Championships.

Yesterday’s City Council meeting agreed to contribute $500,000 to the $3.5 million cost of hosting the event. Christchurch is bidding against Barcelona for hosting rights.

Council Recreation and Sports Manager John Filsell says the Paralympics world championships are a significant world class sporting event – second only to the Rugby World Cup for the city – which have the potential to bring the city a $10 million economic windfall.

"Christchurch has a tremendous affinity with this type of event. Last year, the city successfully hosted the World Wheelchair Rugby Championships, which saw teams from 12 countries in our city competing for the coveted title."

It is proposed Christchurch would host the IPC Athletics World Championships at QEII Stadium from late January to early February 2010. The event would attract up to 1300 athletes, 900 officials and 200 media.

"This would be one of the largest sporting events that Christchurch and New Zealand would be able to host. It would provide the city with phenomenal global media coverage and enhance our international reputation as a world-class venue to host major sporting events."

Mr Filsell says in producing the bid document for the championships, Council had formed strong partnerships and worked in collaboration with SPARC, Paralympics New Zealand and Major Events NZ.

Christchurch’s bid must be lodged by the end of this month. A decision on hosting rights is not expected until September.

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