New Zealand To Hold The Rugby World Cup 2011 With Pride
17thNovember, 2005 was a major victory for New Zealand Rugby team as it was on this auspicious evening that the International Rugby Board (IRB) selected New Zealand to host the Rugby World Cup 2011, thereby giving
it preference over both Japan and South Africa. The event is expected to play out as a major international sporting event with the costs going as far as NZ$310 million and the ticket sales generating NZ$280 million, both sums humungous enough to set the hearts
of rugby fans world over racing in anticipation. Indeed between 10th September and 22nd October 2011, the rest of the world shall hold its breath and listen in silence to the cheers and screams of the 70,000
fans that shall have gathered in New Zealand to support the World Cup.
In spite of the shocking news that South Africa was eliminated from being selected as the host nation in the very first round of voting by the IRB council, it was not easy for New Zealand to bag the status of the host. Past records did not help. New
Zealand was supposed to have co-hosted the 2003 rugby event with Australia but disagreements over ground signage rights led to this arrangement falling apart and consequently, Australia bore the title alone.
There had been widespread criticism of the capacity of New Zealand to host such a major event until the 2005 Lions tour was held that set many of these fears to rest. Although increasing the commercial viability of the plan was obviously a very important
element in the decision to increase the size of the Eden Park, the fact that the international community was unsure of the capacity of New Zealand to successfully host the event was another important factor.
The very fact that New Zealand and South Africa have historically retained the privilege of hosting the world cup is another aspect that did not work to New Zealand’s advantage. Had the IRB had decided to hold the cup in Japan, it would have become
the first Rugby world cup ever to be held in Asia thereby making it an event of momentous significance. Japan would also have been a very wise choice logistically because much of the infrastructure put up during the 2003 Fifa World Cup could have been put
to use.
Other issues also cropped up later that bring into question the rationality behind holding the cup in New Zealand. There have been some internal official reports that question the readiness of the nation to hold an event this large. Unions representing
the rights of hotel workers have decided to hold strikes during the world cup in order to ensure greater publicity and potential financial aid from international organizations for their own causes. Concerns have also been expressed that the Forsyth
Barr Stadium might not be complete on time and may hold a certain level of risk.
In spite of all these and other possible issues that may hamper the success of the event, it is very clear that New Zealand shall not back down from the responsibility it has undertaken. This prediction is corroborated by the fact that in 2008 the
chairman of IRB gave the country a rating of A+ upon the preparations that it had successfully launched. The country seems fully geared towards ensuring that the success of Rugby World Cup 2011.
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