Special Olympics NZ Grows Young Athletes

Intellectually handicapped, emotionally gifted:

Special Olympics NZ grows young athletes

Like a first kiss or a rollercoaster ride, there is an electric thrill that comes with scoring soccer goals, and you only have to be human to experience it.

Special Olympics NZ helps intellectually disabled kids through sport and their annual soccer tournament is fast approaching. It will be held on Tuesday 19th June at Waikaraka Park in Auckland, from 10am to 2pm.

"Something had switched on in these two girls. Something had changed," says Dave Beattie, Upper North Island Schools Coordinator. He is not referring to the athletes.

Often it is the coaches who walk away feeling most rewarded: this year has seen students from the New Zealand Institute of Sport, as well as professional club coaches and Sport Education NZ (SENZ), training the young athletes over 6 weeks.

"The coaches are blown away... they come up to me saying, 'Make sure I know about it next year, I want to be involved,'" says Dave, the event co-ordinator. "They say that this is the best thing they'd ever done, that these kids are just like any other kids."

The 5-a-side event is a culmination of those weeks' training and coaching. Over 200 athletes are involved in the coaching process, and 250-300 kids are expected to be in the tournament. They are put in divisions, according to ability, and each team will be recognized for efforts.

"I think it is part of human nature to give to others what you've got to give," says Anne, another Special Olympics organizer.

It is obvious from watching a soccer practice that the coaches get just as much, if not more, of a boost from their participation in the Special Olympics as the athletes. Everybody on the field looks like they would not rather be anywhere else.

According to these professional coaches, who work with professional athletes, lots of the Special Olympics athletes are actually capable of being in top sports teams as they blossom with the right support and opportunity. Like any other kids, they enjoy sports and the positives they get back.

They can do as well, or even better, as those who play for mainstream teams. The only difference between the Special Olympics games and mainstream games is that the scoreboard takes second to the experience: there is an enormous amount of compassion on the field, and if someone falls over, another player (even from the opposing team) will help them up.

So while there may be intellectual disabilities on the field, it seems that this only helps the kids to further develop their emotional capabilities.

There are roughly 400 identified syndromes, although the wider community tends to lump all intellectually handicapped kids in one category. Anne says, "There is the stereotype that they are 'living in their own little world' when actually, they're not - they're living in your world."

The soccer tournament provides chances for athletes who can and do play in mainstream teams, as well as ensuring that there is a place for people who are never going to make it into mainstream teams, and would otherwise be excluded.

Dave reflects fondly on "the massive grin on children's faces when they are able to participate in team sports for the first time." They are given this opportunity solely because of Special Olympics NZ.

Like everyone else, they want to grasp onto something they're good at and like any other sports team, they could use your support. So could Special Olympics NZ. Volunteers do all the work at this organisation, and are always looking for funds and helpers.

Whatever interests, talents, background and time you have to offer, there are opportunities available. Please visit www.specialolympics.org.nz.

Even if you can't afford the time to help out on a regular basis, your support would be much appreciated at the soccer tournament. The tournament will be run on a round-robin basis, with a prize giving at 1:30pm. Trophies go to winners in each division.

Anne says the passion behind Special Olympics NZ is simple: "You're more fortunate than others in some ways and you just share what you have to give."

ENDS

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