KEY POINTS:
After three years of positive advances, the first concerns are creeping in about Rugby World Cup 2011.
Since winning the hosting rights in November 2005, Rugby New Zealand 2011 - the company set up to organise the tournament - has cruised through its work in impressive fashion.
The feedback has been positive all the way, with regions around the country buying into the vision of building a festival atmosphere. There was also widespread support for the decision to award semifinals to Wellington and Christchurch.
But with less than 1000 days until the tournament kicks off, RNZ2011 chief executive Martin Snedden has voiced his concern that the country is not doing enough to fully capitalise on the business, tourism and infrastructure opportunities that come with the hosting rights.
"The idea of building a legacy is an area that needs more focus," said Snedden. "Most of the responsibility for that lies with others. The Government was prepared to back the tournament not just because it was a major sporting event but also because it felt New Zealand could derive some business and tourism benefits.
"I'm not seeing enough evidence of work being done to create those benefits. Yes, there are three years to go but it takes a lot of preparation to make sure you are ready to take advantage when the time comes."
That concern extends to the lack of progress being made in improving Auckland's transport network. Auckland will be the nerve centre of the tournament in the final two weeks when the number of overseas visitors will be at its peak. The city's notoriously poor transport links will come under intense pressure and Snedden says that while he has heard good ideas from the various local bodies, he's not sure when those are going to be acted upon.
"I have no doubt that we will come up with temporary solutions," said Snedden, "but my preference would be something more permanent."
The vastly depressed economic backdrop has also cast a slight shadow over the original predictions about how many overseas fans will travel and what the tournament might be worth.
At this stage it is hoped that the economic cycle will work itself out and by 2010, the major nations of Europe will be bouncing back, encouraging consumers to spend.
Less certain is the situation around sponsorship. The organisers of the London Olympics have said they are struggling to raise interest given how the devastation sweeping through the major corporates.
The situation is not expected to be much different for Rugby World Cup 2011, although even if packages are harder to secure and signed at a lesser value, it won't impact upon the tournament as it is the IRB who drive and collect sponsorship revenue.
"The sponsorship market has dried," said Snedden. "Honda pulled out of Formula One last week and in a market like this, the first thing that gets looked at is sponsorship.
"There are some sponsors that are close to being in the bag but making sponsorship headway is going to be a challenge.
"I suppose there might be some companies who see New Zealand as a bit out of the way and isolated but the far bigger concern than that is the current economic climate."
Emirates have signed up as an official sponsor and other companies are considering making a commitment. It might, however, take some time before a full compliment of sponsors is secured with many firms likely to hold back until they see how the global situation pans out.
