CHRISTCHURCH TO HOST SECOND SUPERGAMES

Having successfully staged the inaugural world Supergames, Christchurch will now host the second gathering in April 2003.

The first Supergames attracted more than 1000 competitors from 16 countries competing in 43 sports in March-April this year.

Public services’ personnel such as the armed forces, fire and ambulance services, police, customs, and prison officers from around the world, contest the games held every two years.

Included in the 43 sports played earlier this year were touch football, lawn bowls, angling, canoeing, chess, cross country, deer hunting, darts, golf, judo, rugby, rugby league, shooting, squash and tennis.

Some individual services have their own games, but Supergames 2001 held in Christchurch earlier this year was the first occasion that all of the services were able to compete against each other at the one location.

The Christchurch City Council’s Leisure Unit announced today that it had secured the second Supergames and the Council’s Leisure Manager, Alistair Graham, said it was expected the Games would be bigger than ever.
“Commencing with the opening ceremony on Friday 4th April and concluding on Saturday 12th April, Supergames 2003 is expected to have more sports, and more competitors from more countries,” he said.

Supergames Chief Executive Keith Schultz stated that the overwhelming support provided by the Christchurch City Council, Christchurch Businesses as well as Sporting Clubs and Associations was the deciding factor in the games returning to Christchurch and Canterbury.

Mr Schultz endorsed the comments from competitors who attended the 2001 games that Christchurch was an ideal venue to host this type of event, with its easy access to world class sporting facilities and its top quality accommodation.

Competitors who attended Supergames 2001, were completely overwhelmed by the friendliness shown to them by the people of Canterbury.

“We will build on the success of the first Games and potentially we could get to a point where the size of the event could mean Christchurch or any other New Zealand City could no longer stage them,” Mr Schultz said.

Planning is already under way with many of the Countries that competed in the 2001 event already making arrangements for a return visit.

ENDS

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