NEW ZEALAND WINTER GAMES 2011

In just three months time the NZWG will be held in the Otago region, with the snow
sports being held around Queenstown and Wanaka and the ice sports in Naseby and
Dunedin.

It is very exciting for our sport to be included, as we missed the opportunity when the
games were held last, in 2009.

Planning for the games is well underway and I have been involved in a number of
meetings making sure our sport is well catered for. With the preliminary entries closing
early in June we have had an early indication that at least four countries will be sending
teams and some officials from overseas have accepted invitations to participate.
In an effort to ensure that we could guarantee overseas participation, we structured the
events to cover not only senior men and ladies but also ISU Age Groups A, B and C
(skaters in age groups 17-19yrs, 15-16yrs, 13-14yrs). The New Zealand Selectors will
this week, issue a list of NZ skaters who are eligible to compete and from which the
selection will be made. They will also send out the criteria to be used.

The selection of the New Zealand Team will be made following the Canterbury
Championships on 28th May and the announcement will follow upon ratification by the
Board of ISSNZ.

A number of local officials have indicated that they are available to assist at the NZWG,
as well as the National Championships and we are grateful for their cooperation.
Accommodation for key officials will be available through the Winter Games
organisers at two hotels which are sponsoring the event and Air New Zealand, also a
sponsor, is subsidizing some of the air travel.

The NZWG organisers will liaise with the team through the NZ Team Manager (yet to be
appointed) concerning any details regarding the NZ Team. I will personally keep in
contact with the appointed officials.

We are looking forward to displaying to the New Zealand public and to visitors and
overseas viewers, a quality competition including the best of New Zealand Short Track
racing.