NZ PM calls for 'realism' on WCup
Source: Agencies |
March 16, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
NEW Zealand Prime Minister John Key said World Cup organizers still needed to talk to the International Rugby Board about Christchurch's ability to hold matches, but said people needed to be "realistic" about the earthquake-stricken city's situation.
New Zealand's second-largest city was hit by a 6.3-magnitude quake on February 22 which killed at least 166 people and levelled much of the city center, casting doubts over the five pool games and two quarterfinals scheduled there during the September 9-October 23 tournament.
A British newspaper, citing an unnamed source at the IRB, said organizers would move games away from Christchurch because engineer reports were expected to show that the city's damaged Lancaster Park stadium could not be fixed in time to hold matches.
"I don't want to speculate on that today," Key said yesterday, referring to the city's chances of keeping the World Cup matches. "What I can tell you is that we're going through a very thorough process. Once we've had some discussions with Vbase who are the owners of AMI (Lancaster Park) over the course of the next few days, we'll then move onto discussions with the IRB."
Key said organizers hoped to have the matter settled by the end of the week. "They're (the IRB) going to engage in good dialogue with us before any decision is reached but we all need to be realists here and we need to provide them with good, sound advice.
"Obviously, emotionally we want to hold the Cup, but if we practically can't, then we won't."
A spokesman with New Zealand's World Cup organizing committee would not comment on the British newspaper report.
Christchurch's mayor Bob Parker said last week that Lancaster Park's playing surface, which resembled a "putt putt" (miniature) golf course, could be completely rebuilt in time for the World Cup.
New Zealand's second-largest city was hit by a 6.3-magnitude quake on February 22 which killed at least 166 people and levelled much of the city center, casting doubts over the five pool games and two quarterfinals scheduled there during the September 9-October 23 tournament.
A British newspaper, citing an unnamed source at the IRB, said organizers would move games away from Christchurch because engineer reports were expected to show that the city's damaged Lancaster Park stadium could not be fixed in time to hold matches.
"I don't want to speculate on that today," Key said yesterday, referring to the city's chances of keeping the World Cup matches. "What I can tell you is that we're going through a very thorough process. Once we've had some discussions with Vbase who are the owners of AMI (Lancaster Park) over the course of the next few days, we'll then move onto discussions with the IRB."
Key said organizers hoped to have the matter settled by the end of the week. "They're (the IRB) going to engage in good dialogue with us before any decision is reached but we all need to be realists here and we need to provide them with good, sound advice.
"Obviously, emotionally we want to hold the Cup, but if we practically can't, then we won't."
A spokesman with New Zealand's World Cup organizing committee would not comment on the British newspaper report.
Christchurch's mayor Bob Parker said last week that Lancaster Park's playing surface, which resembled a "putt putt" (miniature) golf course, could be completely rebuilt in time for the World Cup.
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