Council wants residents to walk Rugby Road to Bledisloe match

Christchurch City Council is inviting residents to walk the Rugby Road in an unofficial parade before the Bledisloe Cup match at AMI Stadium on 7 August.

Rugby Road Walk is the historic pedestrian connection that extends along High Street from Cathedral Square towards AMI Stadium that the Council has been enhancing for the past two years by putting in new banner poles and lighting, enhanced planting along footpaths, new directional signs and new public art.

The walkway stitches together existing institutions in the area such as CPIT with the ChristChurch Cathedral and the AMI Stadium while highlighting redevelopment that have occurred around the lanes and in the Central City South precinct.

The Rugby Road Walk parade starts at the Cathedral Square, with The Amazing Race’s Phil Keoghan walking with rugby greats past and present to AMI Stadium after 5pm.

The event offers residents and fans a chance to win six prizes of Rugby World Cup kits of the country of their choice. Council is encouraging people to park their cars in town and walk to the game from the Square by providing free parking at several Council cark parks.

The parade is the highlight of the week-long Paint It All Black campaign by the Council to build-up to the All Blacks and Wallabies clash for the Bledisloe Cup on 7 August.

The Council will be looking for feedback after the Rugby Road Walk, both from the public and the police, says John Filsell, Manager, Recreation & Sports. “We want to know what else we can do to highlight this historic route and how to make it work well with the other attractions we have.”

The Paint It All Black campaign is not only a build-up to the Rugby World Cup 2011 but a testing of the waters as to what else we as a city can offer rugby fans and visitors when we host Cup games here, says Mr Filsell.

The Council is to weaving together more and more unique attractions in the city to make them better accessible during the RWC 2011, he says.

Schools are being asked to enter the competition of ‘Painting it All Black’ by draping their premises in black starting Friday 30 July. Over 500 businesses have been approached to take part in the corporate Paint it All Black on the Friday before the game.

Another new event, the Kiwiana in the Square, will encourage residents to get involved in some light-hearted competitions to establish ownership of icons like the pavlova and pineapple lumps. An attempt will be made to make the world’s largest pavlova at this event.

Events for the week:
Friday 23rd July 2010
1. Under 9 and Under 10 Rippa Rugby Tournament with the All Blacks

Monday 2nd August from 4-6pm at the main stadium at QEII Park.

Please register your team to take part in the tournament by emailing a photo of them supporting the All Blacks to paintitallblack@ccc.govt.nz by Friday 23rd July.

2. Paint It All Black – Schools Promotion
Black out your classroom to win a great prize pack. Students can register to receive a few black items to help you on your way.
Check out the Schools Promotion for more information »

Monday 2nd August 2010
All Blacks Community Challenge
QEII Recreation and Sports Centre
4-6pm

Test your speed, strength and kicking accuracy at the adi test lab –visit adidas photo booth and get a professional photograph of yourselves with your favourite All Black.

Tuesday 3rd August 2010
Signing Session
Signing session with three players from the All Blacks – Barkers Westfield Riccarton
3-5pm

Friday 6th August 2010
1. Paint It All Black – Businesses Promotion
Photos of shop windows and staff to be emailed by 12noon on Friday 6 August 2010 to win great prizes. Email photos to paintitallblack@ccc.govt.nz.

Paint It All Black registration pack »

2. Kiwiana in the Square
Get down to Cathedral Square to experience Paint It All Black fever. Loads of competitions to enter and be sure to purchase a piece of Pavlova as we attempt to break the World Record. Get your teams together to enter the Tug of War competition.

Saturday 7th August 2010
1. Rugby Road Walk
Meet in the Square at 5pm to experience the Rugby Road walk to AMI Stadium. Grab your special ticket in Cathedral Square to find out how you enter to win one of 6 Rugby World Cup kits of the country of your choice!

Road closures will be in place to allow for a fast and free flowing walk.

Free parking will be available for you to park your car and allow you to walk to the game in the Farmers Car Park, Oxford Terrace Car Park, Lichfield St Car Park and the Manchester St Car Park so be sure to get in quick.

2. Bledisloe Match
All Blacks vs Wallabies
Bledisloe Cup Match
Saturday 7th August, 7:35pm kick-off
AMI Stadium
Dragon performing pre-match from 6:45pm

Tickets from www.ticketdirect.co.nz, phone 0800 224 224 or from any Warehouse in Canterbury.