Special Olympics NZ Clubs Join Global Celebration

MEDIA RELEASE

24 September 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Special Olympics New Zealand Clubs Join Global Celebration to Honour Founder

Basketball tournaments, tenpin bowl-a-thons and even classic egg-and- spoon races are just some of the events being held as Special Olympics New Zealand Clubs join the global celebration in honour of Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day, 25 September.

“All the events taking place make up a national effort to raise awareness of Special Olympics New Zealand in the community and create a solid platform for future annual days to celebrate our organisation, its founder and the Special Olympics movement,” says Kathy Gibson, Special Olympics New Zealand Chief Executive.

Local events will combine to be part of the international day to honour Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics. Mrs Shriver died 11 August 2009.

The day, dubbed Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day (EKS Day) will be the inaugural celebration of an annual event that will be held on the fourth Saturday of each September. It will be a great opportunity for Special Olympics athletes, volunteers and the public to get outside, kick the ball around or run some races and remember a woman whose life work was to provide opportunities, break down stereotypes and create a world of inclusion.

New Zealand events include large scale have-a-go day picnics in local parks, celebrity tenpin bowling competitions and old fashioned sports days where sack and three- legged races will bring out the competitor in everyone.

Mike Ryan, Special Olympics New Zealand National Sport and Coaching Director says that events like EKS Day are key to breaking down stereotypes that surround intellectual disabilities.

“Once people get outside, kick a ball around, shoot some hoops, or play any sport, it reinforces the point that people with intellectual disabilities want the same things in life and are perfectly capable of achieving them. And it’s a lot of fun. Special Olympics athletes are competitive but they also know how to have a good time.”

Mr Ryan says, “Roughly a dozen events will happen in New Zealand over the weekend of 25 September. It’s great that so many events are happening concurrently in New Zealand – and really wonderful to know that these are just a few of the events planned in over 170 countries in celebration of EKS Day and Mrs Shriver’s work to improve the quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities.”
On 9 September  California First Lady Maria Shriver (Mrs Shriver’s daughter) issued the following statement after the State legislature passed a bill designating 25 September as Eunice Kennedy Shriver (EKS) Day in California:

“The Governor and I want to thank the California State Legislature for recognising not just my mother's contributions, but the millions of families living with and caring for someone with intellectual disabilities. My mother believed in the potential and possibilities for people with disabilities -- that they compete, participate, feel empowered and be included. She was determined to change the world for people with intellectual disabilities, and she did. Hundreds of events will take place on September 25th all over the world to honour and celebrate the life of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and make a global call for people to commit to actions of inclusion, acceptance and unity.”

EKS Day has been created as a global call to action to inspire new fans to experience her legacy and embrace the movement she founded in her backyard. What started as an inclusive sports camp in the early 1960s has blossomed into a worldwide movement transforming lives in over 170 countries.

The activities that take place on EKS Day will demonstrate the impact of these values to those unfamiliar with Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her revolutionary movement in more than 170 countries around the world. Special Olympics New Zealand Clubs invite the public to come out and join in the fun at one of the events happening here.

For additional information about EKS Day, please go to www.eksday.org

For information about events in New Zealand, please  go to: www.specialolympics.org.nz

 For a list of New Zealand events, go to: http://specialolympics.org.nz/documents/EKSEventCalendarforWebsite.pdf

ENDS

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