World Cup on track despite Christchurch quake
New Zealand has marked a year until the start of the World Cup rugby tournanemt, less than a week after Christchurch was devastated by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake.
The opening match between New Zealand and Tonga will be played on September 9, 2011, at Eden Park in Auckland.
Organisers have insisted that the quake disaster will be managed in the lead-up to the tournament,
Christchurch is due to host seven matches, including two quarter-finals.
“We are monitoring potential impacts on our planning for RWC 2011, but at this stage there is nothing to suggest the region will not be able to play its part in hosting this event,” said Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Sneddon.
Despite the earthquake causing millions of pounds of damage, Sneddon is adamant that they remain on course to be ready.
Quoted by the BBC, Sneddon said, “I’d rather be where we are now than perhaps where the organisers of the Delhi Commonwealth Games are,” in reference to next month’s event in India.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025