-
Source: Special Olympics NZ
Special Olympics New Zealand was founded in Lower Hutt by Grant Quinn in 1983.
The organisation provides a year-round programme of sports
training and competition for children and adults with intellectual
disabilities.
Special Olympics is for anyone with an intellectual disability and
is open to anyone over the age of eight.
Approximately 1% of the New Zealand population has an
intellectual disability which equates to roughly 40,000
people
Special Olympics NZ is a registered charitable trust. There are
over 5000 Special Olympics athletes training and competing in New
Zealand and each year Special Olympics NZ runs nearly 200 events
throughout the country.
Each of the sports that athletes compete in is divided into
separate categories by age, gender and skill level.
Participation in Special Olympics National Games, which are
being held in Manawatu from December 2 to 5, is not limited
to elite athletes.
To qualify for the National Games, athletes must compete in
qualifying, regional and national competitions in the four years
leading up to the games.
The National Games is one part of the overall development
programme for Special Olympics athletes who join the movement for
life-long participation in sport.
While ability level varies greatly and all levels are welcome,
consider this: at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in
Shanghai, there were 109 performances that would have bettered
performances at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
The sports that Special Olympics NZ offers at the summer games are:
aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce (a form of petanque),
equestrian, football, golf, indoor bowls, power lifting and tenpin
bowling.
Special Olympics NZ also offers alpine skiing, snowboarding, floor
hockey and figure skating at the winter games. The organisation is
also developing badminton and table tennis to be played at the
Summer Games in the future.
Special Olympics New Zealand's Summer and Winter Games are held
every four years and the games in Manawatu this December will be
the seventh National Summer Games.
It is a huge operation that will consist of 43 teams, 1076
athletes, 379 coaches and team managers, 10 sports and over 600
volunteers.
Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics
provides athletes continuing opportunities to develop fitness,
demonstrate courage and experience joy as they participate in the
sharing of gifts and friendship with other athletes, their families
and the community.
