U-20 soccer World Cup yields positive return for New Zealand

Hosting the under-20 soccer World Cup last year provided a sound economic return on the government's investment in the event, ministers claimed on Thursday.

The government invested 5.5 million NZ dollars (3.71 million U.S. dollars) in the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015, and the tournament boosted gross domestic product by 30.4 million NZ dollars (20.51 million U.S. dollars), said Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman.

The ministers were commenting on analysis that also showed the tournament attracted more than 3,600 international visitors, generating 52,650 international visitor nights in commercial accommodation.

More than 300,000 spectators attended 52 matches across the seven host cities from May 30 to June 15.

"This report reinforces the government's decision to invest in major international sporting events such as the FIFA U-20 World Cup," Joyce said in a statement.

Football clubs around the country were enjoying the benefits of hosting FIFA's second largest men's competition, Coleman said in the statement.

"This includes around 5 million NZ dollars (3.73 million U.S. dollars) worth of new playing fields and equipment, including restoring and building quake-damaged fields in Christchurch," Coleman said.

"As well as turning on some great football moments, with 154 goals scored, hundreds of New Zealanders are now involved in the sport. Youth football participation was up 13.4 percent for 2015 and New Zealand Football recorded 1,000 new volunteers." Endit