Winter Games NZ chairman Sir Eion Edgar made the announcement on behalf of Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee at the closing ceremony of the 18-day world junior snowboard and freestyle championships at Cardrona Alpine Ski Resort.
The event will be held from August 13-28 and finishes before the Rugby World Cup begins on September 10.
The programme has been expanded to include speed-skating, winter triathlon and mixed pairs curling.
The organisers also plan a four nations ice hockey competition, with Australia, China and Korea invited to play New Zealand at the Dunedin Ice Stadium.
Biathlon and luging were not out of the picture and could yet be confirmed on the demonstration programme, Edgar told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
Mt Hutt Ski Area near Methven, in Canterbury, is a new venue and the only venue outside Otago.
Mt Hutt will host the Super G and Adaptive Super G alpine racing, with Coronet Peak at Queenstown hosting the remainder of the alpine skiing events.
Wanaka and Naseby provide the rest of the venues.
Entries have not officially opened yet, so it is not known which "big name" athletes will return for next year's games.
However, the Chinese men's and women's curling teams had already entered, acting quickly on a recent email seeking expressions of support, event director Arthur Klap said.
Edgar said the board started planning for next year's Games one month after the 2009 event ended.
It was a very simple decision for the board to hold the Games every two years rather than adopt the four-year format of the Winter Olympics, he said.
"If extended beyond two years, we wouldn't be able to retain the expertise of Arthur Klap and his management team. We couldn't afford to pay over a four-year period. Also, this is too big a gap to retain sponsors," he said.
The $3.8 million event has been supported by a $750,000 central government contribution, down on last year's $1 million commitment.
Local authorities and other agencies have stepped in to provide another $890,000.
The balance will be raised from sources such as commercial sponsorship and community trusts.
Edgar said the government contribution, through its major events development fund, was less than hoped for but the board was grateful for what it had received.
The government contribution allows the event to use Tourism New Zealand's 100% Pure promotional tag. Brownlee said in a media release the funding should "provide a platform for the event to build its reputation and grow its critical mass" and "become self-sustaining and independent of government support".
Winter Olympian snowboarder Juliane Bray (34), of Wanaka, welcomed the announcement and said other athletes would also be excited.
