Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Paul Lewis chats to Martin Snedden, CEO of Rugby New Zealand 2011.
"Snedden is fond of the Beijing Olympics comparison. Multi-billion dollar facilities, impeccable organisation and coordination, a showcase of talent and effort - but no atmosphere; no connection with visitors; and therefore no real sense of involvement; all preventing it from being labelled one of the great Olympics. Part of the plan to provide the festival and the stadium of four million is to have different regions host different teams. To do even that, however, takes gargantuan coordination. It's too big for one centralised body to pull off.
"So Snedden and his team are devolving responsibility to 20 RWC regions, involving local councils, venues, tourism operators - anyone who needs to be involved in a region's efforts to host teams and the visitors who come to watch them and experience this country. Snedden does this job largely by talking. And talking. And talking."
RSS feed
