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Sir Murray Halberg. - Source: Fairfax -
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Sir Murray Halberg has been honoured by the sports awards bearing his own name.
Receiving the Halberg leadership award at the annual ceremony in Auckland last night, the 1960 Olympic gold medallist and awards founder was acknowledged for 50 years of service to New Zealand sport.
"I'm greatly honoured," Halberg said.
"I may have to get to the bottom of who's behind this.
"I'm very pleased, it adds something to my life, it's wonderful.
"To receive a trophy which has been won by people who have basically contributed 50 years to the Halberg Trust is great."
The man who made his name as a 5000m runner and also won two Commonwealth Games titles over the three-mile race, has used his post-athletic career to found the Halberg Trust , an organisation designed to honour sporting excellence and provide sporting opportunities to disabled New Zealanders.
And on a night when rugby ruled the roost, Halberg, 78, threw his weight behind the All Blacks' success - who picked up five awards through the evening.
"I'm an avid sports fan at all levels and like all New Zealanders I was biting my nails during the finals stages of the World Cup," he said.
"That's my moment of the year, winning the World Cup of rugby, it was incredible to be able to sit there and watch it."
And, apparently, Halberg also shared the nation's angst when Stephen Donald stepped up to the plate for that all important kick, which eventually landed the title.
"I saw the ball go towards the posts and I said, 'oh my God', he's missed it," he said.
"And suddenly the flags go up, it was such a pivotal time."
As for the future of his trust organisation, Halberg signalled a need to continue tackling disabled participation numbers and at the elite end, raise the profile of Paralympic sport.
"I'm not so much at the coal face now, but the trust is in good hands," he said.
"Ongoing, what we're attempting to achieve is something we have to work at, the acceptance of sport and people with disability. It still has a long way to go."
This year's Halberg Awards saw the introduction of a disabled athlete category. The award was collected by triple Paralympic champion swimmer Sophie Pascoe.
