Winter Olympics for N.Z. considered

Press, 20 December 1986, Page 10

Winter Olympics for N.Z. considered

PA Wellington The prominent businessman, Mr Bob Jones, will head a committee set up to look at the feasibility of New Zealand staging a Winter Olympics. The Minister of Tourism and Sport, Mr Moore, announced yesterday that Mr Jones would chair the committee of seven, which includes the manager of the New Zealand Edinburgh Commonwealth Games team and the Southern Regional manager of the Mount Cook Group, Mr John Cooper. Mr Moore said at a

press conference that the committee would not "be constrained by terms of reference or prejudices. I want to know if it is possible.” If it was possible, he wanted to know why it had not already happened. The feasibility study will be funded by Government tourism resources. Mr Jones, also at the press conference, said it would take about two months to complete. The International Olympic Committee has decided that the 1992 Winter Olympics will be held in Albertville, France, and countries are now starting to think about lobbying

for the 1996 Olympics. Mr Moore said the committee had not been set up to make a bid for 1996. It would provide for the Government the list of obstacles that "needed to be smashed” before New Zealand could make one.

Money was not an obstacle, but New Zealand’s potential to host such an event needed to be looked at. Mr Jones said at this stage it was assumed the events would be held in the South Island.

He agreed with Mr Moore that there was enormous trade and tourism potential for New Zealand in even making a bid for the Games.