Cardrona and Snowfarm skifields will receive a boost before the New Zealand Winter Games in August thanks to the Otago Community Trust.
The trust distributed $341,500 to 18 organisations throughout Otago last month with the inaugural winter games receiving $100,000.
The games, hosted by Otago, will involve skiing, curling, skating, ice hockey, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, adaptive snow sport, luge and winter triathalon.
It is hoped they will give international competitors, including our own New Zealand winter sports teams, valuable preparation time before the Winter Olympics in Vancouver next year, chief executive Arthur Klap said.
The United States, Canada, Britain and Japan have indicated their participation in the August event, which is the first of its kind world-wide.
Mr Klap believed numerous benefits would come to Otago from hosting the event.
"It will provide the opportunity for New Zealand winter sports athletes to compete on the international stage at home," he said.
"It will develop the local sports administrative capability to international levels."
The $100,000 donation will go towards snow sports held at the Cardrona and Snowfarm skifields.
Other large donations made by the trust included $60,000 to the Otago Youth Adventure Trust towards renovations at Tautuku; $70,000 for upgrading the Musselburgh Baptist Church and community hall; $30,000 for renovations to the Mosgiel Brass Band rooms; NZ Ice Hockey Federation received $10,000 for an international competition; and the Lake Wanaka SouNZ Rippon Music Festival received $7,500.
Other donations included. -
Balclutha: Waiwera South Community Hall $7500; Enterprise Clutha Trust $10,000.
Dunedin: ESOL Home Tutors Dunedin Inc $2000; Family Network Inc. $5000; First Presbyterian Church of Otago $5000; Presbyterian Church of New Zealand Historical Records Committee $7500; Purakanui School $500; Sport Otago $9300; Stage Challenge Foundation $4000.
Milton: Anglican Parish of Milton/Tuapeka $8000; Lawrence Incorporated $1200.
Oamaru: Oamaru Stroke Support Group $4000.
