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
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