Kāpiti Athletes To Special Olympics Christchurch For National Summer Games

A tight-knit group of 18 athletes from Kāpiti is preparing to head to Christchurch for this year’s New Zealand National Summer Games between 10 – 14 December, the largest sporting event in Christchurch this year. Held every four years, the Games are a major high point for athletes with an intellectual disability, bringing together 1,200 participants competing across 10 sporting codes: athletics, basketball, bocce, equestrian, football, golf, indoor bowls, powerlifting, swimming and tenpin bowling.

The Kāpiti delegation flies south on 10 December, joining thousands of athletes, supporters and volunteers for a week-long celebration of inclusion, achievement and the power of sport to transform lives.

Kāpiti will compete in two sports, 10-pin bowling, with eight athletes, and basketball, where a team of ten is preparing for fast-paced competition. Supporting them is a committed coaching crew, including Rachael Martin Bowling Coach, who brings skill, knowledge and steady guidance to the bowling lanes.

Among the athletes are remarkable stories of resilience, leadership and personal transformation.

One of the most inspiring comes from Blake Stewart, who made a life-changing decision to lose weight so he could be part of the team. Fuelled by determination and belief in himself, Blake shed 50 kilograms in preparation for the Games. His teammates say his journey has lifted the entire squad.

Blake says:

“I wanted to prove to myself that I could do this. Losing the weight was hard, but picturing myself competing in Christchurch kept me going. Now I feel ready.”

Another standout athlete, Jason Donovan, has represented New Zealand at two World Championships, bringing home two gold medals and a silver in snow sports. He will be a key figure in the 10-pin bowling team.

Jason says:

“Representing New Zealand was a dream come true. Now I’m excited to compete with my Kāpiti teammates, we’ve worked hard for this, and we can’t wait to get stuck in.”

The team also includes rising leader Jack Rowe, who recently returned from Singapore after representing New Zealand on the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Regional Council. A graduate of the Athlete Leadership Programme and now Co-Chair of the Council, Jack has travelled to Singapore and Thailand in his leadership role and recently purchased a house with his sister, something he credits to the independence gained through Special Olympics.

Kāpiti now boasts four athlete leaders, all of whom contribute to supporting new athletes and strengthening ties with Special Olympics New Zealand. The team regularly helps run ‘Have a Go’ days, encouraging more people to discover the joy, confidence and belonging found through sport.

Kapiti Basketball team manager Vicki Rowe says the group embodies the heart of Special Olympics:

“Every one of our athletes has overcome challenges most people never see. Blake’s determination, Jack’s leadership and Jason’s achievements show just how special this team is. We could not be prouder of them.”

The Kāpiti team arrives in Christchurch on 10 December, ready to take part in a landmark event that celebrates achievement, community and the power of sport to uplift lives across Aotearoa.

Note:

Special Olympics New Zealand represents over 4000 athletes at 42 clubs all over New Zealand. The National Summer Games in Christchurch is the 11th edition of this four-yearly pinnacle event for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Unlike Paralympic of Olympic athletes, Special Olympics NZ does not receive any Government funding and relies solely on gifts and sponsorship and the support of hundreds of volunteer coaches and managers. Special Olympics NZ was started by Grant Quinn from Lower Hutt who took four athletes to the 1983 World Summer Games in the US, and two years later organised the first National Summer Games in New Zealand.

© Scoop Media