Len Brown

Subject: Rugby

An Opinion

"Lets keep our eye on the ball!"

It is essential that we in Auckland establish an Auckland Rugby World Cup Committee.Now.

On successfully winning the rights to the Olympics, Sydney ,under Federal and State authority established the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.Sydney 2000, was a brilliant organising and leadership feat.Political, sporting and business leaders working collaboratively with a clear and well understood purpose.

The delivery of an outstanding event. We in Auckland can deliver the same type of synergy and focus that Sydney brought to bear.Because we will host a semi final and the final, we will be the global showcase, and it is essential we do all in our country proud.

The government, in July, established a company to manage the tournament in NZ, RNZ 2011.The RNZ 2011 Board, with the Government,needs to very quickly set out its vision and plan for the delivery of this great event.This will embue the process with clarity and purpose, presently lacking, and focus our energies on how we deliver.In my view it is therefore essential that the Government separate out from the present regional governance debate the crucial work to be done for the cup, and immediately establish in our region a committee, unifying political, sporting and business leadership; the Auckland Rugby World Cup Committee(ARWCC)

To wrap our Cup efforts up in what has become an extremely contentious and divisive issue, will invaribly impact on the importance of the work thay we all can agree on, and that is the delivery of a superb event, and the quinella after 2007!

ENDS

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