Media Release
8 September 1999
Olympic windfall for Wellington region
A Wellington Regional Council proposal could reap a big windfall for the Wellington region from the Sydney 2000 Olympic
Games according to Wellington Mayor Mark Blumsky.
A WRC committee agreed yesterday to contribute up to $350,000 towards promoting the region's businesses in Sydney prior
to and during the 2000 Games.
"The plan is to gain as much financial benefit for the region as we can from what will be the biggest economic driver in
Australasia at the time. It's going to be a huge event and we'd be crazy not to try and tap it as a potential source of
serious revenue.
"No-one should underestimate the significance and good sense of this move. The WRC's investment will, I'm sure,
represent a major development in the sustainability of the regional economy.
"Wellington City Council's next step is to sit down with the WRC and discuss working together to achieve the best return
on their investments in the development of the local economy.
"This could be the starting point for a closer co-operation between the councils that will have real spin-offs for the
region and make it a better place to live and do business.
"In the end, that's what we all want."
ENDS