Winter Games New Zealand Trust chief executive Arthur Klap said yesterday the recent endorsement of the games by the international snow sports governing body, FIS, at a congress in South Africa, meant athlete targets could be revised by 30%.
The adjustment was the result of positive feedback from five individual snow sports committees and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
Mr Klap was among 1100 delegates who attended the 46th international FIS congress, in Cape Town.
The congress discusses snow sports development and representation at the Winter Olympics.
Mr Klap spoke to cross-country, snowboard, freestyle, alpine skiing and intercontinental cup committees and the IPC.
All were excited about the opportunity the games presented to elite athletes, he said.
Pacific Rim delegates visited Otago in March to view the venues.
They indicated teams from their countries would use the games as a test event to qualify for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
