The Masters Games bring in more money than an All Blacks test in a metro city.

According to Deputy Mayor Dot McKinnon at last night's launch of the 20th 2009 ACC New Zealand Masters Games, the economic impact was millions of dollars spent in Wanganui.

She said the athletes who competed were empty-nesters, couples, singles and people who followed the team. They were people with disposable incomes or who had saved to come to something like this.

Mrs McKinnon said she sensed a revival in interest for the games, and with principal sponsors ACC and Sparc giving more funding to next year's games, the accent on health was even more important  prevention rather than the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

The challenge, Mrs McKinnon said, was for all of Wanganui to get behind the games.

Her vision was that when the visitors arrived they would be entering Games City, with bunting and welcome signs in shop windows  a self-promotion branding that Wanganui was open for business for the two weeks.

Offering discounts would be an incentive for the visitors to part with more of their cash, Mrs McKinnon said.

Community, civic and sports leaders gathered in the Wanganui Golf Club to hear ACC general manager people and business services Denise Cosgrove, games chairman Leigh Grant and Mrs McKinnon officially launch the promotion campaign.

In keeping with the games' demographic of baby boomers, the theme for the 2009 games is the 1960s.

The Rock 'n' Roll Club members became models for the occasion and donned the new games sports apparel in retro colours of burnt orange, black with white, pink, blue and cactus green, which will be worn by the competitors, volunteers and administration staff.

Games event manager Mike Cronin said, working on the trends of the past two games, 7000 athletes were expected, but organisers were looking to grow the numbers through increased promotions.

"We'll have a greater physical presence around the North Island in a lot of the main centres, which is our biggest catchment."

They had a dedicated person in Auckland networking with sports clubs, and were also promoting in the South Island and overseas.

Volunteers over the two weeks numbered 120, but a true estimate would run into the thousands, Mr Cronin said. As of last night, 64 different games were officially open for registration online.

Three newcomers were wakeboarding (snowboarding on water) at Lake Wiritoa, salsa and ciroc dances and Texas hold 'em poker, which would be held in the games village.

Mr Cronin said people were invited to host the new games, which had to meet the games quality benchmark.

A lot of support was given by the 30 suppliers from the business community, which if the games had to pay, meant the athletes registration cost would need to be increased.

"This is our 10th games, so we have a proven track record," Mr Cronin said.

Source: Wanganui Chronicle
05.08.2008
By MERANIA KARAURIA