Rugby World Cup Presentation
Friday 9 December 2011, 1:35PM
By Marlborough District Council
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Rugby World Cup officials presented the Marlborough District Council with a silver salver and a framed photograph from the Rugby World Cup 2011 final in recognition of this region’s input into the tournament.
Those directly involved in the local planning for the event were hosted by RWC 2011 for an afternoon tea and video highlights from the tournament.
Rugby World Cup 2011 city liaison manager Andrew Steele and tournament services manager Nigel Cass thanked Marlborough for its efforts as he handed Mayor Alistair Sowman the tray and the framed photograph of Eden Park taken at the moment the Webb Ellis Trophy was presented to All Blacks Captain Richie McCaw.
"We couldn't have done it without the huge effort put in by regions like Marlborough – somehow the whole country really did become that stadium of four million," said Mr Cass.
He said tickets sales got to $269M, which was 11 times more than the previous biggest sporting event hosted by New Zealand, the 2005 Lions Tour.
Visitor numbers reached 133,000 with 1000 accredited members of the media also arriving in New Zealand.