No sponsor but games planners go for gold | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

There's no naming sponsor - but Masters Games boss Mike Cronin says there will be no cutting down of services or ambition for next year's event in Wanganui.

The launch of the 2011 New Zealand Games, to be held around Wanganui on February 4-13, took place last night with Mr Cronin outlining the arrangements, and launching the games  website and  online booking system.

 Although the ACC has not been replaced as the games' major sponsor, costs have been held as much as  possible, with supporters' entries staying at $35, early bird entries rising from $40 to $45, and the standard entry fee  rising  from $50 to $55.

One innovation is a superannuitants' entry fee of just $45, the same as the "early bird" class.

 Mr Cronin says he hopes those qualifying do not leave their booking until very late.

 He hopes to break the 7000-entry mark the 2008 games just failed to reach - 6915, including supporters.

"It will be the 2011 New Zealand Masters Games but it will be the same event in every other respect," Mr Cronin said.

"We want  the quality and expectations of participants to be met, we still want to put on some fantastic entertainment - games packs, facilities at the village, entertainment, standard of sports grounds - the whole lot will be up to the same spec.

"We have to deliver on that.

"There will be no diminishing in the standard of the package.

"It's important to Wanganui and to participants coming that they have the best time and we have to continue to make sure that happens.

"If we go for one year without a [naming rights] sponsor, we will find ways to recover from that," Mr Cronin said.

He said the organisation still had "heaps" of smaller sponsors.

The theme for the coming games will be "tropical beach party", following on from the 2009 theme of rock'n' roll and the 1960s.

But he says that doesn't mean to say night-time entertainment will be all "Beach Boys stuff".

New sports are (some returning after a break): aerobics, archery, the corporate challenge, equestrian (four-day programme), "the gnarly guy-gal" contest, an obstacle course, indoor netball, rugby sevens instead of 10s or 15s, and waaka ama.

Dropping out are trout fishing, Scrabble, multisport and the ridge-run, and pistol shooting.

Mr Cronin says the organisation was mindful, in setting its prices, of the economic depression. "But we are hoping that six months down the track after Christmas  everyone will be feeling well about themselves."

This time there will be two games ambassadors, the great rugby player Sir Colin Meads joining former Commonwealth Games 10,000 metres champion Dick Tayler.