Golden Oldies event in Chch for first time
Greg Lamb is looking forward to lacing up his rugby boots in April for the Golden Oldies event scheduled to be held in Christchurch.
It will mark the first time all Golden Oldie world events are held in the same host city. The event is open to anyone from around the world aged over 35. Ten sporting codes will be on display: rugby, cricket, netball, football, hockey, golf, basketball, lawn bowls, squash, and softball.
Traditionally, Golden Oldie events have been scattered across the world every two years with each city hosting a different sport.
Lamb has been attending Golden Oldie events since 2010 with his touring rugby team the Canterbury Baa Baas.
He said the Golden Oldie competition was a great way of making friends and travelling the world.
‘‘It’s friendship and fraternity, that’s the key thing, you come across guys about the same age and share their experience of what they’ve done and where they come from.’’
Lamb said hosting the tournament in Christchurch would be great for the city after all it has been through in the last seven years.
‘‘It’s going to bring a lot of exposure, its going to be great for the economy, people are going to spend some money and fill up all these new hotels.’’
Festival co-ordinator Ellie Bigsby said event organiser Vintage Sport and Leisure decided they wanted the event to be a way to support the regeneration of Christchurch. ‘‘I think it is going to be a really good time down in Christchurch and hopefully it’ll make a good impact on the city.’’
About 5000 people were expected to be in Christchurch competing in the monthlong event with approximately $20 million expected to be injected into the Christchurch economy.
Money raised by the event will be donated to the charity Kids Can and to the Leverage and Legacy Committee Christchurch.
Leverage and Legacy chairman Barry Corbett said the event provided a chance for the committee to leave a lasting legacy for the people of Christchurch.
Corbett said the committee would like to produce a long-lasting project based on historical sporting events throughout Canterbury. Christchurch Golden Oldie event manager Mike Godinet said the Golden Oldies would encourage future events to come to the city.
He said the event would be a way to profile Christchurch and present it as a place to visit.
‘‘We are going to show Christchurch as a bloody good host.
‘‘Hopefully it will encourage the city and other event owners to seriously look at Christchurch.’’
He said it was possible some of the sports may return to Christchurch in the future.
The games will be based at South Hagley park.
A number of celebrity ambassadors will be attending including Sir Graham Henry, Sir Bob Charles, Rod Latham, Todd Blackadder and Robbie Deans.
Registrations for the event, sponsored by Christchurch Casino, will close in late March.
"You come across guys about the same age and share their experience of what they've done and where they come from."
Canterbury Baa Baas rugby team member Greg Lamb