New Zealand's Giant Rugby Ball will officially open in Sydney
this Thursday (2 September), marking the start of the Ball's fourth
and final international appearance.
The 25-metre-long, 13-metre-high giant inflatable venue is
already in place at its iconic Circular Quay location, with
stunning views of the Sydney Opera House and within easy walking
distance of Circular Quay ferry and train terminals.
It will be officially opened at 7am on Thursday morning in an
opening ceremony to be attended by the Māori King, Kiingi Tuheitia
Paki, and Australian and New Zealand dignitaries.
The opening ceremony will involve Aboriginal and Māori elders,
in what will be the first official meeting of the two cultures on
this scale.
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says the Ball's
presence in Sydney is timed to coincide with the Bledisloe Cup
Match on 11 September and will make the most of media opportunities
around this event.
"Australia is an important market for visitors to New Zealand
for next year's Rugby World Cup and the Giant Rugby Ball enables
highly visible promotion of New Zealand as the host nation." he
says.
"The Ball and surrounding activities will present New Zealand as
an exciting holiday destination for Australians, both now and in
2011, and showcase a range of experiences that visitors to New
Zealand can enjoy."
The Ball will open to the public on Friday (3 September) and
will be open each day through to 12 September. Around 18,000
visitors are expected to pass through the Ball while it is in
Sydney.
Tourism New Zealand is working with partners including the
Government's New Zealand 2011 Office, Rugby New Zealand 2011 and
New Zealand Inc agencies including New Zealand Trade &
Enterprise to ensure the Ball promotes New Zealand as a place to
visit and do business with.
The New Zealand Government has estimated that around 21,000
Australians will visit New Zealand for the World Cup, which will
kick off in just over one year's time.