SI Masters Games in Christchurch

Media release – May 23, 2007

More than 3000 athletes expected to line up for SI Masters Games in Christchurch

More than 3000 athletes are expected to compete in the South Island Masters Games in Christchurch in October.

About 3200 athletes turned out for the event in Timaru last year and more than 3000 are likely to enter in 32 sports this year, organiser Chris Thomas said today.

``The Masters is one of the biggest multi-sport events in New Zealand. Our studies found the overall economic impact for Timaru last year was worth more than $1million and we expect the total spend to the higher in Christchurch.’’

Timaru’s Shirley Godkin set a world indoor rowing record on her home patch last year. The other world record breaker was Marius Boon of Dunedin who broke three NZ lift records and two world records.

Thomas said both world record holders were expected to enter again this year. Entries for all events opened this week.

Sports include aerobics, badminton, basketball, billiards, canoeing, kayaking, cycling, football, futsal, golf, gym sports, ice skating, ice hockey, indoor rowing, lawn bowls, mountain biking, netball, petanque, 10k run, five km run, clay target shooting, smallbore shooting, snooker, Squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis, tenpin bowling, touch rugby, volleyball, walk 10k, five km walk, weightlifting.

Twenty-six Christchurch venues will be used to host all the events.

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