The Rugby World Cup in New Zealand this year will be a fillip to a nation still reeling from the devastating Christchurch earthquake, chief organiser Martin Snedden believes.
Just 150 days before the tournament opens on September 9, Snedden yesterday said the organisational problems caused by February's quake had been dealt
with, although how best to involve the devastated city in the event was still a concern.
And while Snedden stressed organisers were certainly not looking for a "crass marketing" dividend, he thought the tournament would come at just the right time.
"It will be good timing for New Zealand, it will be a real fillip," he said.
"We have gone through a period of shock, we are still going through a period of grieving. We are quite tentative at the moment about outwardly celebrating [anything] too much.
"I think what will happen as the year goes on, is that people outside Christchurch will gradually get back to normal, and excitement will grow.
"And in the end, it's possible that the earthquake will create an emotional feeling that New Zealanders will want the World Cup to be even more successful than they have previously been thinking.
"You look for things that unify, and this is an event that will unify the country."
Up to 90,000 overseas visitors were now expected and Snedden believed his organising committee was on track to deliver them an event to remember.
