KEY POINTS:
It looks like Netball New Zealand is the only one that can save July's world netball championships.
The International Federation of Netball Associations [IFNA] stripped Fiji of the championships after the coup and must now decide if it is possible to host the event in another country.
Its
board hopes to make a decision by Christmas.
New Zealand and Australia are best equipped to take over the event but it is understood Netball Australia's first response was it did not want to be involved.
However, it's believed the Australians are now keen to host the event but not in July.
While Jamaica and England could rustle something up having hosted the championships in 1995 and 2003 respectively - it would be a big ask on their infrastructure and a struggle commercially - more so than for New Zealand and Australia.
IFNA president Molly Rhone said from Jamaica the championships could be staged in early August.
September and October were out because of the Rugby World Cup and many of the Caribbean athletes would be returning to university. Postponement to July 2008 was another option, and looking increasingly likely.
IFNA is waiting to hear from any country that feels it can host the event.
The Netball NZ board is meeting tomorrow and the championships will no doubt be discussed.
"Nobody wants to host a wishy-washy championship. I think before they put the offer on the table, they want to make sure they have covered all areas," Rhone said.
"I am sure IFNA is going to have to make some compromises because it is almost unfair on any country to expect them to plan a championship in such a short time."
That could mean going ahead without opening and closing ceremonies.
"If a country can come up with a venue, accommodation and transport and things for the athletes and officials and we can hold a congress meeting - the world has to understand any host country is putting themselves out to help netball in this time of crisis."
IFNA, which relies on the championships for funding, would not want the tournament cancelled.
Former IFNA president and Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic chief executive Sheryl Dawson was chief executive of the organising committee for the 1999 championship in Christchurch.
She believes it would take this country a minimum of nine months to organise a "reasonable championships" pushing them out of the ideal July/August time frame.
But she did not think it was completely unrealistic for it to go ahead here in July.
"I guess it depends what sort of event, that you, at the end of the day can manage, given the constraints of time and the situation you are faced with," Dawson said.
"That is the big call IFNA are going to have to make. How much are they willing to compromise in order for the champs to go ahead."
The next championships will be slightly easier because 16, not 24, nations are taking part - and 30 were involved in 1999.
Dawson said: "I think there'd be a lot of people out there who, if New Zealand said they wanted to do it, would put their hands up and say they were willing to help.
"It depends on the goodwill of the local community ... people to help run it and to put the money up."
