Counting down to Rugby World Cup 2011
The clocks are ticking and the final countdown has begun - there’s just one year to go until New Zealand stages its biggest-ever event, the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Celebrations to mark the 9 September 2010 anniversary - exactly one year until the huge rugby tournament kicks off at Eden Park in Auckland - have taken various forms throughout the country.
At Eden Park, scene of the World Cup opening in just 12 months, a new world record was set today for passing a rugby ball. In both the North and South Islands mass hakas were planned as a unique way of marking the OYTG milestone and in downtown Auckland, a giant countdown clock was to be unveiled on the waterfront.
At the same time the organisers of NZ 2011 officially announced the national festival brand for the tournament - REAL New Zealand Festival - and revealed the Shout it Out video showing how regions throughout New Zealand are celebrating one year until they welcome visitors for the event.
Longest Pass
A special Auckland 2011 team gathered in pouring rain at Eden Park, and after two attempts managed to break the world record for passing a rugby ball.
With the previous record at 262 passes, catch number 263 was made by Warren Mackie of Avondale in Auckland, and the team went on to reach 270.
The team was made up of sports stars, dignitaries, media personalities and hundreds of school players who came together to celebrate One Year To Go until RWC 2011 kicks off at Eden Park.
Passes had to be 5m apart and no-one could handle the ball twice - which made for a tense time as the ball zig-zagged the length of the field between participants.
Prime Minister John Key made the first pass to Rugby World Cup Limited chairman Bernard Lapasset, who in turn passed to former All Blacks Bryan Williams and Andy Dalton.
OYTG - shout it out
A special compilation of images from around New Zealand was released today (9.09.2010) after each region was invited to either ‘shout out’ or ‘spell out’ their one-year-to-go message and record it on film.
Some used well known landmarks, others had a rugby or festival theme, and one group spelled out their message in sign language.
The OYTG video kicks off in Gisborne in the North Island where a Māori warrior performs a pukanā and shouts OYTG in Te Reo Māori.
It continues with Kiwis of all ages shouting and spelling out their message from the top of Northland to Bluff in the deep south - from mountain tops to golden beaches, some shouting as they freefall at 200kph on a sky dive, one group bungy jumping to mark the occasion, and others using fire, wine bottles, golf balls and even cows to make their point.
RNZ 2011 also released a special eMagazine to mark the one-year-to-go milestone. Countdown to RWC 2011 is aimed at keeping people up to date with preparations for the event.
"We urge New Zealanders and fans around the world to read our story and spread the word. It shows that the ‘stadium of four million’ is coming alive, something we see every week as we travel through New Zealand," said RNZ 2011 CEO Martin Snedden.
"Communities, rugby clubs and other organisations up and down New Zealand are really getting behind this tournament and the opportunity it provides to showcase our country to the world," he said.
Countdown clock
To mark one-year-to-go, a digital clock was to be unveiled in QE2 Square on Auckland’s waterfront.
The freestanding digital clock, which will count down days, hours and minutes, has large, two-metre tall digits that people can walk between.
The countdown clock was to be unveiled at 7:30pm on 09.09.10 - exactly one year from RWC 2011 kick-off next September - when the All Blacks play Tonga in the opening match of the tournament.
Auckland City mayor John Banks is to unveil the clock, and a Māori culture group will perform in and around the digits.
Mass haka
OYTG will also be marked with two mass hakas - one in the North Island and another in the South.
In Taupo more than 1,000 school children will perform a mass haka as part of an Under-13 rugby tournament to be held at Owen Delany Park on Saturday (11.09.2010).
Saturday, 11 September will also see thousands gather at Tahunanui Beach in Nelson, to attempt the world’s largest haka.
Nearly 3,000 from all over the top of the South Island have been training for the record attempt which will feature both male and female versions of the haka.
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