Entries open for 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games

Entries open for 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games

LAKE WANAKA, New Zealand (April 26, 2011) ¬

Entries opened this week for 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games, the Southern Hemisphere¹s largest winter sports event taking place on 12-28 August 2011 and that is expected to attract over 1,000 of the world¹s elite snow and ice sports athletes.

Many of the ice sports teams are already confirmed and will feature some of the top nations in speed skating, figure skating, ice hockey and curling. Korea is sending eight speed skaters while Australia will send a large 16 person figure skating team and China is sending their ice hockey team. In curling, the mixed doubles will feature the double world champions from Switzerland while the women¹s competition will include the Olympic gold medallists from Sweden. Curling also has confirmed entries from Australia, China, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Latvia and New Zealand.

Winter Games NZ CEO, Arthur Klap, said the quality of entries already received showed the importance of 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games on the world circuit.

³It¹s really good to see countries sending significant numbers of their top athletes indicating Winter Games is a valuable competition platform for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres,² he said. ³With the Northern Hemisphere season now over, team managers will be assessing their options for the summer months. Winter Games NZ will appeal as it offers world-class competition and provides a valuable launch pad for their 2014 Winter Olympic campaigns.²

100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games runs from 12 to 28 August in Wanaka, Queenstown, Naseby, Dunedin and Methven. As well as on-snow competition, the Games will feature a full off-snow festival programme to include an adventure expo, live music, film festival and downtown rail jams and big airs. For further information, visit www.wintergamesnz.com .

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