New training track at QEII for IPC Athletics World Champs

Top athletes at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships will be the first to use a new training track at Christchurch's QEII Park Recreation and Sport Centre this month.

From 21-30 January, New Zealand's largest multi-sport and leisure complex will host the first IPC (International Paralympic Committee) Athletics World Championships to ever be held outside Europe. Paralympics New Zealand secured the right to host the event in Christchurch ahead of the other finalist, Barcelona in 2007.

The 10-day championships are also a qualifying event for the London 2012 Paralympic Games and will be attended by top elite athletes from around the world. Nearly 1100 athletes from 80 countries, plus 900 officials will be in Christchurch for the event.

Council Recreation & Sports Unit Manager, John Filsell says part of the requirements for hosting this event was the provision of a 400 metre, eight lane warm-up track for the athletes.

"We did consider simply creating a temporary training track; however with support from Central Government, we were able to install a permanent rubber-surfaced warm-up track to IAAF specification that not only meets the requirements of athletes in this major competition, but will also provide long-lasting benefits to our city."

Work began on the new track in October 2010 and has been completed well ahead of schedule, in plenty of time for the event.

As a strong advocate for sport and cultural activity in New Zealand, Minister for Economic Development Hon Gerry Brownlee says Government are thrilled to have contributed to this project.

"This new training track will not only be of great benefit to the IPC Athletics World Championships, but also for the legacy benefits to Christchurch and New Zealand as a whole. A facility of this scope expands our potential to host other major international athletic events."

Among those expected to benefit from the new track are local athletes and athletics clubs, schools, Athletics Canterbury, New Zealand Athletics, athletes competing in the annual International Track Meet in March, and The New Zealand Academy of Sport.

It is estimated that the IPC Athletics World Championships will bring approximately $12 million dollars into the Christchurch economy through competitors, visitors and supporters coming to the event.

The 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships opens on 21 January and runs until 30 January 2011.
For further information about the event, visit www.ipcathleticsworldchamps.com