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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Fringe Games?
- When will international Fringe Games be held?
- Why have a Fringe Games?
- What are the Fundamental Principles of the Fringe Games?
- What is the meaning of the Fringe Games symbol?
- How are existing sporting organizations likely to react to these Games?
- Why will people want to compete at these Games?
- How will competitors be selected for these first Games?
- Is it possible to receive financial assistance to attend the Games?
- How big will the Fringe Games be?
- When can I buy tickets to attend the Games?
- Where can I stay?
- What else will be happening in Christchurch at the time of the Games?
- What Fringe Games Business opportunities are there?
- What Merchandise is available?
- Will there be National Fringe Games?
- Will there be a Parafringe Games?
- Will there be a Winter Fringe Games?
- Why are the first Fringe Games being hosted by New Zealand?
- Why has Christchurch been chosen for the first Fringe Games?
- Who is behind the Fringe Games?
- Rights over the Fringe GamesÆ
- Where can I get more information?
1. What is the Fringe Games? | Top |
The Fringe Games is an international festival of new and experimental
sports.
The first Fringe Games will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand from the
8th to the 11th of September 2000. It will offer an exciting line-up of new
athletic and cycling events as well as some innovative ways of performing
existing ones.
It will not
only feature new ways of running, jumping and throwing, but also completely
new sports created for the unique environment of the athletic track. Some
events will be freestyle and a few will be mixed, in line with the aim of
opening up new possibilities in sporting competition. As well, there will
be exhibitions of lesser known sports from around the world and
demonstrations of events that may be included at future games. New events
in skateboarding and inline skating will be included as demonstration
events and these will be announced in 2000. An open convention will be held after
the games to consider new events.
2. When will international Fringe Games be held? | Top |
The Fringe Games can take place at any time as a celebration of athletic
and other sporting events which are fringe to conventional sports, but it
is likely that they will be staged around the time of major international
sporting events in order to highlight other possibilities in sport, just as
fringe arts festivals highlight alternative movements in the arts. They
will most likely be held in countries that are fringe to the country
hosting the conventional sporting fixture. Other Fringe Games could be held
around the time of the World Championships in Athletics in Canada in 2001
and the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002. The fringe country for
2001 will most likely be the U.S.A., and the fringe countries in contention
for 2002 are Ireland, France, Denmark, Norway and Holland.
3. Why have a Fringe Games? | Top |
The Fringe Games is based on the belief that the creation of the new in
sport is as important as the celebration of the old. That actively
experimenting with sport and staging new events challenges human ingenuity
and reinvigorates the human spirit. The idea behind the Games is to provide
a dynamic way of promoting and celebrating these new possibilities.
The Fringe Games also aims to satisfy the hunger for new and exciting
athletic events. People are going to be able to watch formation running,
the 100m slalom and mechanized running for the first time, plus a host of
other dynamic sports that have never been staged on an athletic track
before.
By staging freestyle events, the Fringe Games will enable athletes to reach
new levels of skill and performance which have not been possible in
international competition until now. Many people don't realize that
athletes are constrained by traditional rules of limitation and that there
are ways of jumping higher, throwing the shot further or cycling faster.
These games will allow them to celebrate their true potential by removing
those constraints.
There is great value in celebrating tradition and long may it continue. But
that shouldn't stop us from, for example, creating new traditions or
changing existing ones. With the high jump as a freestyle event we will
find out just how high we really can jump and, in the process, discover a
whole range of new techniques that will be fascinating to watch and
exciting to celebrate through competition.
Pairs skating is an exciting sport, but does it necessarily have to be
limited to just two skaters? Why not three or five? Wouldn't that be more
exciting, more complex, more rewarding and far more spectacular? And why
is it always a man and a woman? Why not two men or two women? Why not two
men and two women? International swimming competitions recognize at least four
ways of swimming, while on the track we only compete in one basic way of
running. But there are other ways to run including lateral running, reverse
running, and inverted running. And, when you are running forward, you can
compete in such new events as formation running, pattern running, slalom
running and mechanically assisted running.
We don't currently have
freestyle events in international competitions which can encourage the
development of interesting new ways to jump, run or throw. The
possibilities and permutations are endless and it seems restrictive not to
celebrate at least some of the more exciting ones. Freestyle events will
also encourage a greater concentration on the development of technique,
rather than the current obsession with the development of physique.
We live in a technological age and we celebrate that technology in some
sport. In international competition we still compete with bows and arrows,
but we use very advanced pistols and rifles too. We use the latest in
high-tech running shoes on the track, but we don't allow flippers in the
pool. We have races in highly engineered sailing boats and rowing boats. We
use advanced technology in skis, snow boards and ice skates. What other
methods can we use to propel ourselves using our own muscles and how can we
compete using those methods? By having freestyle events in mechanical
running for example, athletic competition can encourage the development of
new technology and new ways of using our bodies.
The Fringe Games will push at the bounds of sport and become a showcase of
the possible and the very new. It will be a celebration of the future in sport and a
celebration of the way in which we will increasingly experiment and play
with everything we do as a means of creating new possibilities.
4. What are the Fundamental Principles of the Fringe Games? | Top |
The aim of the Fringe Games is to encourage the inventive society, which
celebrates the creation of new possibilities in sport in the spirit of
competition, fair play and cooperation.
The Fringe Games will encourage departure from sporting traditions so
as to foster the exploration of new ways of playing and the discovery of
new sports to be played. Eligibility for a sport's inclusion in the Games
will be based on it being new, or not widely practiced.
The Fringe Games are designed to encourage innovation in sport and cannot
therefore, continue to feature all the same events every time. The Games
organizers will canvas widely for new ideas to ensure a constantly evolving
program.
Athletes will come to the Fringe Games not only to compete and set new
records, but to join with others to discover new ways of competing. The
principle is not only to compete, but to continually look for new ways of
competing.
The Fringe Games will promote the exhibition of new and scarcely known
sports as a way of celebrating our differences and in order to reach new
understandings. The aim of the Fringe Games movement will bring these
sports to international public attention by celebrating their competition
in one place and at one time, in the spirit of discovery and cooperation.
5. What is the meaning of the Fringe Games Symbol? | Top |
The Fringe Games
symbol depicts a triumphant athlete breaking through the tape and pushing
apart the boundaries of sport. The ring of sport has now been broken and
expanded to become an oval bordered by six colored squares and six streams
which widen as they converge towards it. The two yellow squares represent
new ideas in sport. The red squares stand for the joy and passion of
competition, while green symbolizes new growth. The six converging streams
represent the six regions of the world whose people will gather together to
participate in the Games. They are: North America, Europe, Asia, Africa,
Oceania and South America.
6. How are existing sporting organizations likely to react to these Games? | Top |
Some say that vested interests have monopolized sports and become
autocratic about what events may be run and how competition may be
organized and therefore will not tolerate new ideas. But in reality, many
sports have simply had to limit the number of events they can offer in
order to keep things manageable and within a time-frame that will fit into
a track and field schedule. There are just too many possible variations and
sports bodies are generally quite happy for others to experiment with
sports events, because it keeps up interest in the main events which they
control. Then, if any of the fringe events turn out to be popular and
become established over time, they can be included in the main programme.
7. Why will people want to compete at these Games? | Top |
As this is unlikely to be an event sanctioned by the International Amateur
Athletic Federation, even established athletes who are not
competing at world or Olympics level may not be allowed to attend by their
associations. This gives other sporting men and women a greater chance of
achieving success in new events at an international level. People will want
to compete in Christchurch in 2000 because they will have the chance of
winning medals and setting records in exciting new events watched by a
large international TV audience. The Games will provide them with new
opportunities to test their skills but they will also come for the
comradeship, the friendliness of New Zealanders and to travel in the South
Island's scenic wonderland.
8. How will competitors be selected for these first Games? | Top |
Qualifying times will be set for most events by May 2000 . Procedures for
gaining eligibility to compete in the inaugural Fringe Games will be
announced shortly. In the meantime athletes can register their interest
below.
9. Is it possible to receive financial assistance to attend the Games? | Top |
Provision has been made for some competitors to receive full or partial
assistance for travel to and from NZ and for accommodation during the
Games. You can register your interest in receiving assistance on the form
below. The criteria for eligibility will be posted soon.
Register interest here
10. How big will the Fringe Games be? | Top |
Actual number of athletes attending has yet to be determined.
Negotiations currently under way with broadcasters suggest a worldwide
television audience of possibly a billion.
11. When can I buy tickets to attend the Games? | Top |
Tickets will be available in 2000 and will be sold under a fair
distribution system.
An authorized travel agent will be appointed shortly to handle travel,
accommodation and ticketing. Your own travel agent will also be able to
assist you. Visitors will be able to choose accommodation ranging from
international hotels to home-stays and camping grounds.
13. What else will be happening in Christchurch at the time of the Games? | Top |
It is expected that a significant number of cultural and sporting
organizations will take advantage of the influx of athletes, supporters and
spectators to stage a number of exciting and unusual events in keeping with
the spirit of the Fringe Games.
14. What Fringe Games Business opportunities are there? | Top |
As with any large sporting event, especially one that offers something new
and exciting, there are numerous opportunities available through
Fringe Games Promotions Ltd.
15. What Merchandise is available? | Top |
The first items bearing the Fringe Games symbol will be T-Shirts and caps.
Negotiations to manufacture these and other items of merchandise are
currently under way and their availability will be announced soon.
16. Will there be national Fringe Games? | Top |
It seems likely that national competitions will emerge in many countries
and become an integral part of selecting athletes for International Games.
17. Will there be a Parafringe Games? | Top |
This has yet to be decided but if there is sufficient interest it would be
staged at the same Christchurch venue in October 2000 around the same time
as the Paralympic Games.
18. Will there be a Winter Fringe Games? | Top |
This seems very likely, and some demonstration events are planned for the
Mount Hutt Ski field, 1.5 hours from Christchurch following the Fringe
Games. The 2002 Winter Games will be held in Salt Lake City, USA and the
Fringe Games are likely to go to a city in Canada.
19. Why are the first Fringe Games being hosted by New Zealand? | Top |
It is natural that the Fringe Games would have come out of New Zealand, a
nation known for its love of sport, its sense of adventure and its
do-it-yourself inventiveness. It was New Zealanders who recently developed
Bungy jumping into a world-wide phenomenon, a New Zealander who invented
the jet boat motor which led to the worldwide sport of jet boat racing. It
is New Zealand that currently holds the America's Cup in yachting thanks to
innovative design, and a New Zealander who first climbed Mount Everest,
through sheer talent, grit and determination. No matter what sport they
follow, New Zealanders are united in their belief that their nation shares
a collective identity as a country of great sporting achievement,
independence and innovation. The spirit of these games will be the spirit
of New Zealand.
20. Why has Christchurch been chosen for the first Fringe Games? | Top |
Not only is Christchurch a very beautiful city with one of the best small
sports complexes in the world, it is also known as a city of innovation and
a center of technology. This, and its sense of fun, make it the ideal venue
for the first Fringe Games at the beginning of the Millennium, when athletes
from all over the world will gather to celebrate the creation of new
possibilities in sport.
21. Who is behind the Fringe Games? | Top |
The Fringe Games is the brain-child of international best-selling New
Zealand author, Burton Silver, and will be promoted by Fringe Games
Promotions Ltd which has brought together a team of sports advisors, event
managers and international investors who will work with the Fringe Games
Organizing Committee to make these innovative games a reality. Fringe Games
Promotions Ltd has engaged Niu Pacific Ltd to manage public relations and
media coordination, and Sports Impact Ltd to carry out event management.
Niu Pacific Ltd Tel: 64 4 472 2239, Fax: 64 4 473 3414
Email: niu@fringegames.org.
Sports Impact Ltd Tel: 64 4 479 7974, Fax: 64 4 479 7974
Email: arthur@fringegames.org.
Burton Silver Tel: 64 4 388 9082, Fax: 64 4 388 3759
Email: burton@fringegames.org.
22. Rights over the Fringe GamesÆ | Top |
The Fringe GamesÆ are the exclusive property of Fringe Games Promotions
Ltd, which owns all rights relating to their organization, exploitation and
broadcast. Any post tax profits derived from the celebration of the Fringe
Games will be put back into the development of the Fringe Games movement
and experimental sport.
23. Where can I get more information? | Top |
For information on:
Media and Broadcast Rights: media@fringegames.org
Sponsorship and Business opportunities: marketing@fringegames.org
Other enquiries: info@fringegames.org
- To contact the Fringe Games Organizing Committee:
- Tel: 64 4 479 5563
- Fax: 64 4 479 7974
- Email: fgoc@fringegames.org
- Postal Address:
- Fringe Games Organizing Committee
- P.O. Box 13063
- Wellington 6001
- New Zealand
- Delivery Address:
- Fringe Games Organizing Committee
- 50 Delhi Crescent
- Johnsonville
- Wellington
- New Zealand
Copyright © 1999 Fringe Games Promotions Ltd
Updated 29 January 1999
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