Spreading the word on Special Olympics
Athletes James Bott and Daniel Casbolt are out to spread the word on giving sport a go.
Both are now ‘global messengers’ for the Special Olympics, which means they are trained to give presentations and network in their communities to encourage athlete and volunteer participation.
Along with six other Special Olympics global messengers, they graduated into their new roles at a ceremony in Wellington at Parliament on October 13.
Albany resident James Bott is in training for the National Summer Games next year in golf, just one of several sports including swimming, powerlifting and soccer - he’s com- peted in during the past three national games.
He says the Special Olympics are about getting out there and ‘‘doing the best you can do - not what anyone else thinks you can do’’.
‘‘You can get in there and have a go, and it doesn’t matter where you come - people are still supporting you,’’ he says.
The global messenger programme involves 12 months of training, selecting an ongoing mentor, and attending four workshops during the year. The workshops teach skills such as public speaking, speech writing, goal setting, and networking. At the ceremony, graduates were given different tasks, such as speaking or greeting guests.
Special Olympics New Zealand athlete leadership programme manager Julia Sanson says the athletes’ personal growth is huge during their training as messengers.
‘‘We believe our athletes have a lot to contribute - not only to the organisation - but society as a whole,’’ she says. ‘‘Their personal growth from the beginning of the year to the end of the year is amazing to see - their confidence in themselves, their confidence in their ability to speak up and be leaders.’’
Swimmer and basketballer Daniel Casbolt is in training for the national games next year and says being part of the Special Olympics helps to keep him energetic, keep his fitness up, and meet new people. He says the messenger training workshops have been ‘‘a lot of fun’’.
‘‘We had to set goals at each workshop and make sure we’d achieved them every time we [had another session],’’ the Glen Eden resident says.
Bott says becoming a global messenger is a big achievement he can now ‘‘tick off the list’’.