What to do with big events
New Zealand is supposed to be hosting a string of global sports events in the coming months. Should they proceed?
New Zealand’s line-up of high-profile sporting events for 2021 is facing disruption as the global fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic leads to calls for postponements.
The country is set to host a suite of major sporting events over the next 12 to 18 months, including the America’s Cup, the women’s cricket and rugby World Cups, and the men’s Softball World Cup.
The Sunday Star-Times understands moves have already been made to postpone at least one of those events, with an announcement on the Softball World Cup, originally set down for February, 2021, expected next week.
As the first event of the summer, and the most logistically challenging, the biggest concern is over whether the America’s Cup programme can go ahead as planned.
The America’s Cup is scheduled to get under way on December 17 with the Christmas Cup – a condensed four-day regatta which was to see all the syndicates face off for the first time in their AC75 race boats – before the Prada Cup challenger series gets underway in mid-January.
The delay to building works at the America’s Cup village and syndicate bases during the levelfour lockdown period has put further pressure on already tight construction timeframes. Add to that the uncertainty over how long border restrictions will be in place, which could delay the arrival of overseas syndicates and limit training and testing in Auckland ahead of the regatta, and the event is beginning to look precarious.
Team New Zealand referred inquiries about the event to local government partners Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED), which responded to direct questions about the America’s Cup with a vaguely worded written statement.
‘‘This is an evolving situation which is understandably making planning in the short term increasingly challenging. We know the most important thing at this time is focusing on stopping Covid-19 spreading further,’’ the statement, attributed to chief executive Nick Hill, read.
‘‘However, the teams working on the events of 2021, which includes the 36th America’s Cup, remain keenly focused on their respective programmes of work whilst being mindful of the need to adapt aspects of this activity in line with existing and yet to be determined guidance from central government.’’
Whether or not it is logistically possible for the event to go ahead as planned is just one part of the puzzle. The other consideration is whether it would be desirable for the event to go ahead at that time.
The Government has committed $136.5 million to the event, while the Auckland Council will chip in $113m. That investment was based on the expected returns to the Auckland economy and wider tourism industry through the increased visitor numbers.
But the combined effects of uncertainty over how long it will take for the pandemic to be contained, a global recession, and travel restrictions may see visitor numbers fall well short of what was initially forecast.
However, even with reduced visitors, the event will still provide a significant economic boost, providing jobs in construction and boat-building industries, while having the teams and their families based in Auckland for a period of around six months will add to the local economy.
‘‘While we cannot yet anticipate the full impacts of Covid-19, we believe that next year’s major events programme – in whatever final form it may take – can help underpin our economic recovery as well as provide a vital lift to the people of Auckland and New Zealand,’’ Hill said. Organisers of other events are weighing up similar concerns.
Talks are already being held over shifting the Softball World Cup, which was to get underway on February 20 in Albany, to later in the year.
Bob Leveloff, chair of the organising committee, says organisers are currently considering alternate dates.
‘‘It’s something that we’re discussing at the moment, we don’t have any decision on it yet. It’s up in the air and we’ve been having a few conversations with the [World Baseball Softball Confederation] and others. At this stage everything is still on for us until we can sit down and get a final decision,’’ says Leveloff. ‘‘We’re waiting to hear back from all the different countries about what their situation is.’’ Andrea Nelson, who heads the local organising committee for the women’s Cricket World Cup, which is to be staged the same month as the softball, says there’s been no talk yet of moving the dates.
‘‘We’re pretty much in constant communication with the ICC [International Cricket Council], but no specific alternate plans have been raised or discussed at this point. We’re proceeding with planning based on the original dates.
‘‘But we’re cognisant that it is a fast-moving situation and it’s not the right time to rush to any decisions.
‘‘We’re getting the information that we need at this point and we’ll pick up the conversation as things develop.’’
While the RWC won’t kick off until September, the postponement of the Olympic Games to 2021 means there will be two pinnacle events in the space of 40 days, raising difficulties for nations who have athletes split across both its sevens and XVs programme.
In a follow-up report in the Telegraph, World Rugby’s general manager for women’s rugby, Kate Sadleir, said the organisation is working closely with the unions about the implications of having the two competitions close together.