Italians Visit Dunedin Facilities

Dunedin (Tuesday, 14 December): The manager of the Italian Rugby World Cup 2011 team will visit Dunedin this Thursday to view the city’s facilities.

Luigi Troiani will tour six facilities with Dunedin City Council RWC Co-ordinator Kim Newman, including the University Oval and Caledonian Ground, Moana Pool, Les Mills, the Edgar Centre and the Otago Stadium.

David Davies, chief executive of Dunedin Venues, which manages the Stadium, says meeting the visiting team’s management and having the opportunity to welcome them to the Stadium and show them through the facilities prior to the tournament, is a valuable part of the preparation for 2011.

“Although our visiting teams have all played in top European Stadiums, the reaction to our new roofed Stadium and the opportunity to be one of the first teams on the pitch has been overwhelmingly positive. Momentum is certainly growing as we tick off the milestones toward completion of the Stadium - we can all look forward to a very exciting year ahead.”

It is the first visit of Italian team management to Dunedin, but Kim expects Mr Troiani will respond as positively as other teams have, when viewing the range and quality of facilities available.

• Media will have a brief 15 minute opportunity to speak with Mr Troiani, at the Otago Stadium (Anzac Ave site office entrance), at 11.10am, Thursday, 16 December.

ENDS

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