Dunedin Ice Stadium officials are disappointed the venue has been dropped by Winter Games officials and have questioned whether the event will attract the big names it wants.
Winter Games officials came out late last week with an announcement it was looking to put the event on a higher standing, with the inclusion of six World Cup events, all in snow sports.
It was looking to attract high-calibre athletes from all over the world to the event in August 2013, and as such would not be staging some sports.
Ice hockey, short-track speed-skating, figure skating and winter triathlon had all been dropped from the programme.
In previous games, ice hockey, short-track speed skating and figure skating had all been contested at the Dunedin Ice Stadium, while the winter triathlon took place at the Snow Farm in the Pisa Range.
The Winter Games organisers had decided it wanted to attract the best athletes in their field. If the event was unlikely to attract at least six out of the top 10 performers in their sport then it was to be dropped.
Those sports based in Dunedin were unlikely to be able to attract athletes of that standard.
Winter Games chief executive Arthur Klap said it had been very tough telling the likes of Dunedin and other sports venues they would not be part of the Winter Games in two years' time.
But he said the organisers wanted to have a sharp focus to the event and hoped to attract a big group of athletes who would be preparing for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Socci, Russia.
Dunedin Ice Sports chairwoman Sue Hoseit was unhappy to hear of the decision for the Games to not be in Dunedin, and said it would be a loss to the sports and the city.
"It is very disappointing for the Ice Stadium as we have a first-class facility that is upgraded to meet international standards," she said.
"It is a shame for our young athletes from throughout the country who benefit from the international athletes coming to New Zealand. So it is sad to see the city will not benefit from the teams, supporters and organisers who all [previously] stayed in Dunedin.
"As a venue, we host the event, but it is the three national bodies that manage them. I am sure they will also be disappointed."
She also questioned whether the goal of attracting many of the athletes who would compete at Socci would be achieved.
"With the Winter Olympics in February 2014 it may be difficult to attract the top-level athletes, as the international calendar dictates their training and competition programmes, with Olympic selection events that commence around August-September of 2013."
She also said the Dunedin Ice Stadium had the advantage of not being subject to the vagaries of the weather.
"Ice sports use indoor venues and are not subject to winter weather ... [in the way] snow sports require winter areas for their build-up."
