Rugby World Cup 2011 Government Coordination Office
In November 2005 in Dublin, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Jock Hobbs, Chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU), together with other New Zealand rugby legends, presented a compelling case to the International Rugby Board (IRB) for New Zealand to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup. They portrayed a country united by its passion for rugby and committed to hosting the most successful Rugby World Cup tournament ever. There were nationwide celebrations when, against all the odds, Dr Syd Millar, Chairman of the IRB announced that New Zealand had won the hosting rights.
The Rugby World Cup (RWC) is the third largest international sporting event behind the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, in terms of global television audience. It will be the largest sporting event ever held in New Zealand and as such, the potential benefits to be gained from hosting it are significant:
- It's estimated that the 2011 RWC will contribute over $500 million in additional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the New Zealand economy, of which $240 million will go in to the Auckland economy;
- The tournament is expected to attract over 60,000 international supporters as well as international media personnel and corporate/VIP guests;
- With an expected worldwide television audience in excess of 3 billion, the RWC will ensure that New Zealand is at the forefront of international sport for a substantial period of time providing unprecedented international exposure for the country;
- The potential social and cultural benefits to be gained from hosting an event of this scale are also significant. Rugby forms part of our country's cultural fabric and with up to 48 games played throughout the tournament, many of them in provincial New Zealand, the opportunity to showcase our passion for the game as well as our kiwi culture and hospitality will help bring communities together and do much to engender national pride.
With less than four years before the opening ceremony of the 2011 RWC, the government is taking a proactive approach to supporting the successful delivery of the tournament, as well as ensuring New Zealand maximises the opportunities to be gained from hosting the RWC.
A Rugby World Cup 2011 Government Coordination Office (RWC Office) has been established within the Ministry of Economic Development. The role of the RWC Office is to act as a single point of contact for all matters relating to the RWC and to provide some coordination and leadership to the government’s involvement in the tournament, which includes supporting the successful delivery of the tournament as well as maximising the benefits to be gained from hosting the RWC.
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