$56,000 grant for ski team

Press, 12 November 1985, Page 21

$56,000 grant for ski team

PA Wellington BP and the Sports Foundation have entered into a joint venture to provide substantial assistance to the New Zealand ski team for at least two years from now. The venture also involves the New Zealand Ski Association, which will itself contribute some funds and administer the support programme. The aim is to enable New Zealand’s top skiers to compete on equal terms with the nest from Europe and the United States. The BP ski team created will be the best equipped and coached New Zealand ski team to compete overseas. Apart from equipment, the team will receive a direct cash grant from BP and the Sports Foundation of $56,000 towards thdir expenses in Europe this summer. The contribution next year will be subject to review, but will be at least the same. The BP group has had a long association with the New Zealand Ski Association, with its sponsorship of the New Zealand FIS competition, under the Europa logo.

The sponsorship was announced as the ski team left for extensive overseas training

and competition. The six team members will spend the next five months competing at international level on the World Cup circuit and Europa Cup circuit. The members of the BP New Zealand ski team are: Markus and Matthias Hubrich (Wellington), Simon Wi Rutene (Rotorua), Kate Rattray (Christchurch), Bruce Grant (Queenstown) and Grame Goodwin (Christchurch). The chairman of the New Zealand Sports Foundation, Mr Graham Davy, welcomed the venture, saying that it came on top of the very substantial assistance that BP New Zealand, Ltd, is providing to several sports through the foundation.

“The foundation has devoted considerable resources over the past four years to the development of an international quality ski team,” Mr Davy said. “We believe that the checks and balances which have been established in the joint venture contract between BP, the Foundation and the New Zealand Ski Association will ensure that all of the incentives required to secure improved performances are provided.”