Kiwi Sportsmanship Rewarded

Media release:
October 14 2016

Kiwi Sportsmanship Rewarded

One particular team’s dedication and sportsmanship stood out among their competitors at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Among the 10,000 athletes and coaches competing in 25 sports, the sportsmanship and dedication shown by the New Zealand basketball team saw them awarded the Deloitte Trophy.

This trophy is awarded to the team who exhibits the greatest sportsmanship and demonstrates the values of the Special Olympics.

“It took a while to sink in. I was already ecstatic we had ended up 6th overall, along with receiving a silver medal in division two,” says Alan Robson, Head Coach.

“In many ways it was more rewarding than the medals. To be recognised by well over 200 volunteers as being the team showing the greatest sportsmanship was humbling and hugely gratifying for the effort that had been put in by the whole team.”

It was this sportsmanship that not only saw them awarded the Deloitte Trophy but also landed them a finalist position in the Attitude Sporting Spirit category of the 2016 Attitude Awards. The national awards celebrate the excellence and achievements of Kiwis living with a disability and chronic health.

With only three weekend training camps spent together, the players transitioned into a formidable team, producing the best ever performance by a New Zealand basketball team at the World Games.

Alan says the hardest part about preparing for the international event was forming a competitive basketball team from players with varying skill levels. But he says the great effort each player put in definitely paid off.

Kathy Gibson, Special Olympics NZ CEO, says although this placing and the medals were a fantastic achievement, the awarding of the Deloitte Trophy for sportsmanship was the icing on the cake to a great event.

It was not an easy environment for the players to be away from home for three weeks. But despite this they were committed to the team’s key value of respect – for fellow players, coaches, opposition and referees, says Alan.

“Many players had never been overseas before and some had not been away from their homes or caregivers for any length of time,” says Alan.

Throughout the tournament, Alan made sure the team supported the opposing teams when they could, and they reciprocated.

Alan believes that this social interaction boosted their confidence on and off the court.

The Special Olympics Basketball Team will find out if they have won an Attitude Award at a black-tie gala on November 29 at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds.

There are eight categories in the 2016 Attitude Awards, with some new awards this year: Youth Spirit, Making a Difference, Emerging Athlete, Sporting Spirit, Spirit of Attitude, Artistic Achievement, Entrepreneur and Employer Award. The overall winner of the Attitude ACC Supreme Award is selected from the category winners and a People’s Choice winner and Hall of Fame inductee are also announced at the awards.

Dan Buckingham, Chair of the Attitude Trust, says: “I take my hat off to the judges for managing to narrow down the record number of nominations we had to just 24 finalists, across the 8 categories. Now I’m looking forward to getting to know the finalists as we travel around the country filming with them and sharing their stories.

Thank you to our fantastic family of sponsors who have allowed us to once again shine a light on some great Kiwis living with disabilities doing some phenomenal things.”

Dan encourages everyone to visit AttitudeLive.com in early November to see short films of the finalists and to vote for the person most deserving of the ‘People’s Choice Award’.

The Attitude Sporting Spirit Award is proudly sponsored by HealthCare NZ. Jaimes Wood, Chief Executive of HealthCare NZ says “HealthCare NZ is very pleased to be sponsoring the Attitude Sporting Spirit category of the 2016 Attitude Awards”

“As one of New Zealand’s most experienced rehabilitation and disability support providers we pride ourselves on supporting people to live their lives the way they want to, no matter what disability, health condition or injury they may have. We congratulate the three deserving finalists in this category on their commitment and achievements in their chosen sport, and wish them all the best for the Awards.”

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) returns as the principal sponsor of the 2016 Attitude Awards. Other sponsors supporting the awards are: Lion Foundation, Drake Medox, Barfoot & Thompson, Ministry of Health, KPMG, Westpac, Manawanui InCharge, Ricoh, HealthCare NZ, Air New Zealand and NZ on Air.

ACC Chief Executive Scott Pickering says ACC is proud to be principal sponsor of the Attitude Awards for the ninth year, as well as sponsor of the Supreme Award and the Employer Award categories.

“The Attitude Awards are important because they remind us that everyone benefits when we all look at what we can do, rather than what we can’t,” Mr Pickering said. “This year’s finalists have an impressive list of achievements and ACC is delighted to acknowledge New Zealanders who live life to the fullest, achieve their goals and are role models in our communities.”

For tickets to the Attitude Awards gala evening on November 29 contact Terri Cavanagh at terri@attitudeawards.org or phone 09 378 1565.

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