3000 athletes to compete at South Island Masters Games

MEDIA RELEASE:

7 October, 2011

3000 athletes to compete at Nelson’s first NZCT South Island Masters Games

Fifteen hundred athletes from around New Zealand will travel to Nelson this week, to join 1500 local athletes at Nelson’s first NZCT South Island Masters Games.

The South Island Masters Games 2011 is being held in Nelson from 15 – 23 October. This year, the 3,000 athletes aged over 30 years old will compete across 50 sports in-front of more than 1,500 spectators, making it one of the largest participation events in the South Island.

Games Director Chris Thomas says he is thrilled with the number of registrations, given the new venue for the games, and the overlap with the Rugby World Cup 2011.

“Typically the South Island Masters Games attract just over 3000 athletes, but we had lowered our targets this year, as Nelson is a new venue for such a large masters’ event, and it does slightly coincide with the Rugby World Cup Semis,” Thomas says. “We are extremely pleased that we have such a high number of athletes registered to compete, and we are looking forward to nine days of fantastic sport and entertainment.

“Athletes are coming from 124 towns and cities from across New Zealand, as well as a handful of competitors from Australia,” he says. “For example, there are netball teams coming from Amberley, Christchurch, Ashburton, Blenheim, Taranaki, Wanaka and Wellington. There are cyclists from throughout Canterbury, and from as far away as Rotorua and even Australia. And, Southland will be represented in almost every sport available.

Thomas says that the high number of Nelson athletes registered also shows that the region is taking ownership of the games, which is very important for such a high profile event.

“Half of the athletes are from the Nelson region, which is well above expectations,” he says. “We had a target of around 1000 local competitors, so we are really impressed that Nelson registrations have exceeded 1500.”

Other pleasant surprises come in the number of registrations in certain sports.

“Tennis, golf, cycling and netball have also achieved amazing registrations, well above what we expected, and well above numbers seen before at Timaru,” Thomas says. “The Ocean Swim is also looking good, but perhaps that is of no surprise for Nelson, given the amazing climate here, and the calm waters.

“Overall, it is clear that masters’ events continue to be popular in New Zealand because those over 30 like to keep active, get together and have a great time, both on and off the sporting field,” he says. “This year, records will undoubtedly be broken and new friendships made. It is going to be a blast.

“Building on Nelson’s brilliant performance as a Rugby World Cup host city, the Nelson region will have a chance to shine again nationally and internationally, to hopefully cement itself as one of the key places for masters athletes from around the world to come to.

“As well as competing in their sporting events, we are encouraging visitors to make the most of their rest time to explore and enjoy the region – so they will pen the 2013 Nelson event in their diaries as well.”
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Background: South Island Masters Games 2011

2011 is the first time the South Island Masters Games have been held in Nelson, utilising the region’s world-class million Saxton Field complex for the games administration and sporting events. The games will now alternate each year between Nelson and Timaru.

Athletes will compete in traditional Olympic sports such as Shooting, Cycling, Swimming and Athletics, along with a huge array of team events such as Netball, Volleyball, Basketball and Touch. For the talented, but perhaps not-so-active, there is Pool, Snooker, Mini-golf and even cards, with Euchre and Cribbage also available. Adding to the excitement of the games, new events such as Disc Golf, Ultimate, Motocross, Kart Racing and the Ocean Swim have been added to the events list.

The Games is more than a sporting event - it is a cultural event with a major social element to it - across the nine nights, a range of entertainment, including dancing, live performances and music will be held for all. Participants come to party, network, find an interest and test themselves in physical competition, all in the interests of mental and physical wellbeing. The Masters Games helps promote the ‘Masters movement,’ and aims to get more people participating in sports.

The South Island Masters Games has received funding for this year’s event from the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT), the largest funder of amateur sport in New Zealand, and from the Nelson Events Marketing & Development Programme, which is funded by the Nelson City Council to stimulate Nelson City’s economy.

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