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'World Cup could be catalyst for more events'
New Zealand's chances of hosting further global sporting events have improved and a successful rugby World Cup in 2011 could be the catalyst for it, the head of the organisers has said.
Martin Snedden, who joined Rugby New Zealand 2011 in 2007, had said about a year after he took the job he was unsure if a small economy like New Zealand would be able to afford to host further global events after rugby's showcase and the 2015 cricket World Cup, which it is co-hosting with Australia.
Organisers of next year's World Cup are still projecting an operating loss of NZ$39 million ($27.82 million), which will be underwritten by the government and the New Zealand Rugby Union.
"I am starting to think that if we do a really good job with this, then it just might be something which helps any later aspirations of hosting (other events)," Snedden said ahead of the one-year countdown to the start of next year's September 9-October 23 tournament.
"Everyone knows we are running this tournament at a loss and we are still on target for that.
"What people are coming around to understand is that if we use the hosting as a catalyst for other things we can benefit from, then ultimately that really becomes a $39 million investment rather than a loss.
"If New Zealand can achieve some obvious tangible benefits out of hosting the tournament then the government will be predisposed to hosting other events, but that's all for the future.
"It's my job to make sure that we knuckle down and do it right then we can go from there."
The former lawyer, who was also the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket from 2001-2007, said the progress of the tournament organisation was where it should be and he felt there was little to worry about as it approached one year to go.
"We are on track and we have got enough time for whatever we need to do from this point on," he said.
"One of our objectives is to give people confidence that it's in the right place.
"We're not ready yet, but we don't have to be. All the foundations that have to be ready now, are ready, and it's just a matter of keeping on working on those and getting it through to the finished product."
