Capital ready to host Special Olympians
Athletes from 42 clubs and three schools will swim, run, ride horses and play golf when more than 1300 Special Olympians gather in Wellington, writes Nicholas Boyack.
Chelsea Thorn is a name few will recognise but she holds a unique place in New Zealand’s sporting history. In 2015, the equestrian rider earned two golds at the Special Olympics in Los Angeles.
For her efforts, she won the women’s category at the Counties Manukau Sporting Excellence Awards, dethroning shotput legend Valerie Adams, who had won the women’s top award 12 years running.
It was the first time a Special Olympian had won the top women’s category at the awards.
Thorn is one of more than 1300 athletes heading for the Wellington region to contest the Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games later this month.
In an era when professional sport dominates, it is easy to forget that most athletes are amateur.
Amateurs play sport simply for the love of it. If there is a code that sums up the dedication and hard work needed, it is the Special Olympics.
Competitors from 42 Special Olympic clubs and three schools will swim, run, ride horses and play golf from November 27 to December 1.
The events will be spread across the Wellington region, including at Manfeild Park in Feilding, which hosts the equestrian events.
Held every four years, the Special Olympics are New Zealand’s largest event for people with intellectual disabilities. Athletes of all ages compete in swimming, athletics, basketball, bocce, equestrian, football, golf, indoor bowls, powerlifting and tenpin bowling.
Special Olympics New Zealand chief executive Kathy Gibson said it was a very significant event for the athletes.
‘‘All have put in hours and hours of training and have competed in local and regional events in the lead-up. Many have also spent a lot of time and energy fundraising for their travel and accommodation costs to attend.’’
Alongside the athletes, there is a small army of coaches, management and volunteers all gearing up for the games.
‘‘All up, around 3000 people will be involved, cheered on by many more family, friends and supporters – it’s a real community event,’’ Gibson said.
Multi Coast To Coast winner and world-class endurance athlete Jill Westenra has two students, Wade Leadingham and Phillip Lett, competing.
Westenra said the competition among the athletes was always good and in events such as the 100-metre race, the standard was high.
‘‘It is definitely competitive and you can see the enjoyment on their faces, which is always good … There is always lots of fun, lots of laughs and some tears.’’
Coaching can provide some challenges. Lett is a sprinter and the bigger the event, the better he performs – though Westenra said she was never quite sure how he would go.
‘‘He used to be very quick and he still can be. It is just how he reacts to the starter’s gun; he can be a bit shy.’’
Two people who will take a keen interest in this year’s games are Grant and Wendy Quinn, of Lower Hutt. They started the Special Olympics movement in New Zealand 30 years ago and are still passionate about it.
As well as encouraging fair play, the competition will focus on the athletes’ health. More than 70 doctors and nurses will check their hearing, eyesight, dental care and feet at a Lower Hutt clinic.
Special Olympics New Zealand trustee and audiologist Dr Jeanine Doherty said having so many athletes together provided a good opportunity to check for health issues.
‘‘People with intellectual disabilities typically have poorer health status than the general public – in part, because they may not be able to voice their symptoms … or because the health system does not delve hard enough to find unmet needs.’’
The data collected will be shared with government officials.