KEY POINTS:
A giant taxpayer-funded rugby ball will be placed near the foot of the Eiffel Tower during the Rugby World Cup this year, as the New Zealand Government takes a $4.6 million punt that the All Blacks will be involved in the business end of the tournament.
The inflatable showcase will be on location to promote New Zealand tourism and products on giant screens during the final two weeks of the rugby tournament, when the semifinals and final are to be played. It will be set up for daytime visitors and evening functions.
Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday lauded the idea as bold and imaginative, and suggested that visitor numbers to the ball could be as high as 40,000.
She said the Mayor of Paris had helped secure the highly visible location.
"In terms of getting it erected on this incredible site, I think it shows the generosity and spirit of the people of France towards us," Helen Clark said.
But while some people are excited by the prospect of a rugby ball decorating the landscape of what is considered one of the world's most beautiful cities, others are less enamoured.
Green MP Keith Locke yesterday said the ball would make New Zealand a laughing stock, and was not money well spent.
"The French are very cultured and artistic people, and I don't think it does New Zealand's trade or reputation any good to upset their sensibilities - particularly with what is really a somewhat unsightly interference with the vista of the Eiffel Tower," Mr Locke said.
Act leader Rodney Hide said the cost was high, but it might have some tangible spinoffs.
"When you see the hundreds of millions of dollars that the Government wastes, at least this one has some potential."
During the day the ball will be open to the public and will be used to promote New Zealand tourism, trade, culture, food, wine and technology.
At night it will host events, exhibitions and meetings, both corporate and public.
The Prime Minister yesterday appeared confident that the All Blacks will enjoy a good tournament, saying in her speech that New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Tourism New Zealand would promote the country at events timed "around the major All Black games in the last two weeks of the Cup".
The ball will be dismantled the day after the final of the Rugby World Cup, and after that it will be available to be taken to other cities where the All Blacks play through until the 2011 cup, which will be held in New Zealand.
The ball:
* Is an inflatable structure holding up to 220 people.
* Will stand 12m high, 25m long, and 15m wide.
* Costs $4.6 million to construct and operate.
* Will be positioned about 200m from the bottom of the Eiffel Tower for the last two weeks of this year's Rugby World Cup.
* Will have audio-visual screens on the interior walls, displaying images of New Zealand.
* Was designed by Mike Mizrahi and his team at Inside Out Productions.
