Rugby World Cup 2011 Travel Health Ins.

The IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 is set to take place in New Zealand, with the final preparations for the tournament currently underway. The major sporting event will feature 20 teams and 48 matches, held at 13 different cities across New Zealand including Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Nelson, Hamilton, Napier, and Palmerston North, among other cities. The tournament will be held over 6 weeks starting on the 10th of September and finishing the weekend of October 22nd.

The Rugby World Cup is the third largest sporting event in the world. The international event attracts a melting pot of fans, largely from the United Kingdom, France, Australia, South Africa, and Argentina. Over 80,000 international spectators are expected to travel from all over the globe to attend the games in New Zealand, with around 4 billion people watching worldwide from their homes. Around 2000 media supporters and over 10,000 local spectators will also be attending the event.

The Rugby World Cup is the largest sporting event that will be held in New Zealand for the foreseeable future. Working with many partners, the tournament will be organized primarily by the International Rugby Board, the Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd, the New Zealand Government, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU), and other local authorities. The requirements for hosting such a major sporting event will naturally present many challenges associated with security, technological and organizational issues. Service demands will be increased in various public and private sectors including emergency, security, policing, fire, medical, transportation, air and road traffic, and accommodation.

New Zealand's earthquake in February 2011 caused a major disruption to the organization of the Rugby World Cup 2011. Seven games, including two quarterfinals, were to be held in Christchurch where the earthquake caused 181 fatalities and devastation to buildings, properties and road networks. Games that were to be held in Christchurch have now been allocated to other venue sites across New Zealand, with the quarter final games on the 8th and 9th of October now scheduled to be played at Eden Park in Auckland. The clean up continues in New Zealand's recovery effort following the earthquake aftershock which struck Christchurch again in June this year. Many residents of Christchurch are now moving elsewhere in the country, such as Wellington, for safer grounds.

Given the large scale security and infrastructural demands that are associated with the preparation of the Rugby World Cup, New Zealand is currently undergoing a security build up in preparation for the big event. Authorities have had to reevaluate the security processes in place. Infrastructure has been expanded to accommodate for large volumes of spectators. Despite some criticism from media sources, the International Rugby Board is confident that the Rugby world Cup 2011 will be a success.

A travelers health insurance plan is highly recommended for those attending the Rugby World Cup 2011, due to the security risks that are associated with major sporting events and natural disasters that this country is prone to. A travel health plan will ensure ease of access to medical services and offer protection against other related security risks, such as theft.

Information relating to the preparation of the Rugby World Cup 2011 is offered below:

• Security build up to the Rugby World Cup
• Earthquakes and other natural disasters in New Zealand
• Emergency medical services in New Zealand
• Travel health insurance for the Rugby World Cup

Security build up to the Rugby World Cup

New Zealand is in preparation of a large security build up to the Rugby World Cup. With major sporting events attracting large volumes of crowds, a wide range of security risks are associated including terrorism, rioting, illegal activity, natural disasters, and fire. Rioting in the wake of the 2011 Stanley Cup Hockey finals has indicated that there may be wide ranging security risks, although outbreaks of violence between supporters at rugby games are extremely rare.

Concerns have been voiced regarding the passing of the Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill, a new law that will make it easier for businesses to sell alcohol during the event. The bill hopes to accommodate for the expected increase in demand of alcohol services, however some are arguing that it has encouraged a binge-drinking culture at the event, increasing the risk of associated problems like road accidents, fighting, and other related acts under the influence of alcohol.

In the lead up to the Rugby World Cup 2011, there is going to be a large demand on security services including security guards, secret intelligence services, defense force, and elite police squads. Approximately 9000 bouncers and security guards will be required to patrol the sporting venues, as well as increased security staff to work in festivities and bars surrounding the games. With recent changes in the licensing of crowd controllers including security guards and bouncers, authorities have been concerned that there will not be enough time to train and meet the requirements of the new laws. With a large volume of tourists entering the country over the six week period, customs and border protection officers will be on high alert. The National Assessments Bureau, among other intelligence agencies, are playing a large part assessing both foreign and domestic security risks relating to terrorism.

The level of experience in hosting such large events will differ among cities. Areas such as Aukland and Wellington are relatively prepared for the security build up as they regularly host international rugby games attended by tens of thousands of supporters, however smaller cities including Nelson, Invercargill and Palmerston North are not as experienced with large scale security processes.

The International Rugby Board has assessed New Zealand's tournament venues in their appropriateness to host such large capacities of spectators, with recommendations to expand their current sporting venue infrastructure. Eden Park, where the final will be played, had to be expanded to allow 60,000 spectators to safely attend the game. In Dunedin, the Forsyth Barr Stadium is still under construction however is expected to meet its tight deadline a month prior to the games. If there are any hold ups with completion, the Carisbrook Stadium will be used as a backup option.

Due to the increased security risks associated with the Rugby World Cup 2011, spectators are highly recommend to obtain a travel health plan. Travelers are advised to be aware of their surroundings when partaking in the carnival-like atmosphere which often comes after most games. High levels of alcohol consumption can lead to lowered inhibitions and increase the risk of personal injury.

Pacific Prime offer travel health plans underwritten by IHI-BUPA. As well as providing a high level of medical care coverage, an IHI-BUPA travel plan offers a Non-Medical Option which will provide travelers with an even wider scope of protection. A travel plan with a Non-Medical Option will provide coverage for the policy holder's baggage, protecting items belonging to the insured such as electronic equipment, cash, passport, credit cards, and jewelry. Other benefits of a Non-Medical Option will typically include flight delay, personal liability, trip cancellation, and security and legal assistance.

Earthquakes and other natural disasters in New Zealand

New Zealand is a country prone to natural disasters including earthquakes, storms, floods, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and landslides. In preparation of the Rugby World Cup 2011, spectators need to be familiar with emergency protocols to reduce the risk of injury in the event of a natural disaster.

New Zealand experiences around 20,000 earthquakes each year, 200 of which are strong enough to be felt. In February 2011, New Zealand experienced one of its most destructive earthquakes recorded in history. With a magnitude of 6.3, the earthquake struck the Christchurch region in February, and then again in June, destroying buildings and causing many fatalities and injuries. All Rugby World Cup games that were to be held in Christchurch have now been relocated to Auckland and other venues across the country.

As a result of the high risk and dangers associated with natural disasters, the New Zealand Government has initiated an emergency action plan known as ‘Get Ready Get Through’, providing instructions on how to prepare for a natural disaster and what to do if an event occurs. Earthquakes in New Zealand have caused buildings to collapse, roads to crack open, fires, and have cut off communication, power and water supplies. An earthquakes will also increase the risk of a tsunami, which can flood coastlines and cause widespread damage to buildings and other infrastructure. Disrupted water supply can also cause outbreaks of communicable diseases among other associated risks.

Due to the heightened risk of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, in New Zealand, travelers are advised to purchase a travel insurance policy covering New Zealand if they plan on attending the tournament. In the event of a natural disaster during the IRB World Cup 2011 a travel health insurance plan will ensure ease of access to emergency medical transportation and healthcare facilities.

New Zealand operates a public healthcare system similar to the United Kingdom’s NHS, however after the occurrence of a natural disaster public hospitals in New Zealand are typically overburdened with patients seeking immediate intensive care due to trauma accidents or crush related injuries. During the March Earthquake in Christchurch some hospitals had to be evacuated due to structural damage, leading to patients being evacuated to intensive care hospitals located in Auckland, Wellington and Waikato.

IHI-BUPA has extensive coverage that will ensure you are able to receive emergency transportation to the nearest center of medical excellence in the event of an accident or other medical illness. Public hospitals tend to be crowded, particularly in the wake a natural disaster. An IHI-BUPA plan will provide you with access to private hospital, or any medical facility, where the doctor patient ratio is typically higher and there are no waiting lists for health care services. The IHI-BUPA plan will also provide coverage for repatriation services to your home country; as well as compassionate emergency visit, allowing a close friend or relative to be with you while you recover.

Emergency medical services in New Zealand

The emergency contact number in New Zealand for ambulance service, police department, or fire brigade is 1-1-1. The emergency contact centre will transfer your call to the appropriate service where emergency assistance will be organized.

Medical advice can also be accessed through an IHI-BUPA travel health insurance plan, offered through Pacific Prime. Policy holders of an IHI-BUPA travel health plan have 24/7 access to a medical phone line, teamed with doctors who can offer medical advice and answer related queries.

Visitors to New Zealand may be entitled to some health care benefits through the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) scheme; a national health insurance benefit initiated through the New Zealand Government. The ACC scheme provides personal injury cover to all New Zealand residents and visitors to New Zealand from overseas, regardless of residency status or nationality. The ACC scheme compensates medical treatment and rehabilitation costs related to the injury, which has to have occurred within New Zealand.

Travelers are also entitled to benefits under the ACC scheme however it is important to note that the scheme is not a replacement for traveler's health insurance. The ACC does not cover any emergency transportation back to one's country. ACC claims also have strict criteria and are often rejected and if the patient does not have private health insurance they are held accountable for the medical bill. As such, travelers to New Zealand are highly advised to obtain traveler's health insurance to ensure ease of access to healthcare services as well as emergency evacuation and repatriation.

Overseas, travelers are recommended to display their personal identification or private health care card in their wallet to ensure ease of access to their identification, next of kin and health insurance details, in the case of a medical emergency.

Travel health insurance for the Rugby World Cup 2011

Due to the heightened security risks associated with the sporting event, as well as natural hazards that occur in New Zealand, spectators of the Rugby World Cup 2011 a highly recommended a travel health plan while visiting New Zealand.

Travel Health Insurance Plans offered through Pacific Prime will typically afford a wide range of benefits such as:

Unlimited Maximum cover per person per trip

Hospitalization

Outpatient treatment

Prescribed Medicines

Medical Evacuation

Return Trip

Compassionate Emergency Repatriation

Next-of-kin accompaniment

Compassionate emergency visit

Home transportation of the deceased

Statutory arrangements in case of death

Board, lodging and local transport for a person summoned or accompanying the insured, per day.

Additional non-medical coverage options are available through IHI-BUPA including theft and other travel related options such as trip cancellation. For additional information about the IHI-BUPA travel insurance plans which we offer, please see the list of travel insurance benefits.