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Flying the flag for Rugby World Cup 2011
Flying the flag for Rugby World Cup 2011
Media release 8 September 2011
New Zealanders everywhere are flying the flag for Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011), with every string of RWC 2011 bunting sold out just ahead of kick-off tomorrow.
All 57,000 units of bunting which features flags of all 20 RWC 2011 teams have been snapped up by New Zealand communities and businesses – and at 10 metres of bunting per unit, this would stretch roughly the distance from Invercargill to Christchurch.
Director of the New Zealand 2011 Office, Leon Grice, says this is one small example of how New Zealand is getting ready to hold a very special Tournament.
“The NZ 2011 Office is about helping people to be great hosts and we’re thrilled with the way New Zealanders are pulling together to make RWC 2011 a huge success for our country.
“People are doing all sorts of crazy things with the flag bunting to show how passionate and excited they are about the Tournament and to offer a warm Kiwi welcome to our international guests,” he said.
A few examples of the wonderful ways New Zealanders are using RWC 2011 bunting include:
• Wellington’s Freyburg swimming pool has replaced its backstroke markers with RWC 2011 bunting • In Otago, Taieri Gorge Railway purchased 50 metres of bunting to display in its trains, and Mosgiel Business Association purchased 650 metres of bunting to cover both sides of their main street • Georgian bunting has been put up in every high street in the Wairarapa region, which has gone all out to support their adopted second team • And super-enthusiastic RWC 2011 fans have taken the bunting as far afield as Cape Reinga, the top of Mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku in the Southern Alps, and even to the Great Wall of China!
Other ways Kiwis are gearing up for RWC 2011 • So far, 30 New Zealanders have written a RWC 2011 song for the REAL New Zealand song contest. • Students across the country are taking part in the RWC 2011 Education Programme, after the Government delivered 480,000 free activity books to primary and intermediate schools in July.
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