Winter Games

A new entry to the calendar that is being advertised as the largest winter sports event outside of the Winter Olympics, Winter Games NZ has been set up to run every 4 years as a prelude to the Winter Olympics. Which is quite a clever marketing ploy by the crafty New Zealanders who are behind it. 2009 was the inaugural running of the event but it's already attracted over 800 winter athletes to compete in 26 different snow sports, from alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, curling and skating. The good news for anyone wanting to compete is that entry is free, whilst spectators can watch the events for nothing as well, apart from the stadium events at Naseby and Dunedin for the curling and ice hockey.