Wellington, New Zealand "has been chosen to host" the National Summer Games in '17, according to Alex Fensome of FAIRFAX NZ NEWS. The Games are the country's "biggest event for people with learning disabilities." More than 1,700 athletes, 500 coaches and 1,000 volunteers "will descend on the city" for the first time that the capital will host the event. The announcement was made Tuesday by Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown and Special Olympics New Zealand CEO Kathy Gibson. Wade-Brown said that the Games would contribute NZ$1.5M ($1.27M) to the city's economy, "based on the impact" of previous Games in other cities. City Events Manager Warwick Dent said that "the council would provide a cash sponsorship" to the Games, as well as "subsidised rates for use of venues, and help with marketing and publicity." The sponsorship will "come from the council events development fund." Dent, however, "would not reveal the exact amount to be committed." Dent said that it "was commercially sensitive." Gibson said that the Games had a budget of NZ$1.6M ($1.35M) and her organization wanted 1,000 volunteers "to help run" the event (FAIRFAX NZ NEWS, 2/6).
