2009 WORLD WINTER GAMES

The 2009 World Winter Games will be held in Boise, Idaho USA from the 2nd to the 13th of February. Please visit the website www.2009worldgames.org

Dear Clubs, Staff and Trustees

The Selection Panel (Convener Robin Sheffield, CEO Alastair Hutchens, National Director Sue Kysow and Head of Delegation Stew Hewett) met on Wednesday 23rd April to select the Athletes and Team Management for the New Zealand Team to attend the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho USA.

The Panel found the final selection of Coaches, Management and Athletes very difficult. There were many very strong applicants for the Coaching and Management positions and with only 6 places available for the 11 Athletes nominated in Alpine Skiing, this selection was particularly difficult.

The Panel’s role was to consider and balance the range of technical skills, experience, gender, maturity, travel ability and overall Team compatibility required in the final Team. The Panel is confident that the Team selected has the best combination of all of these separate components to ensure success in Boise next year.

Special Olympics New Zealand wishes to congratulate the successful Athletes, Coaches and Team Management and we look forward to sharing news of your training and preparation in the build up to the World Winter Games in 2009.

2009 Special Olympics New Zealand World Winter Games Team

Alpine Skiing –   Jason Donovan, SO Kapiti

                     Daniel Joyce, SO North Otago

                     Tessa Haskell, SO North Harbour

                     Christopher Rae, SO Marlborough

                     Joshua Ryan, SO Manawatu

                     Duncan Sheffield, SO Tamaki

                     Thomas van der Lugt, SO Otago

                     Aaron Wild, SO Southland

Head Coach -    Rodney Penney, SO North Harbour

Coach –           Joanna Donovan, SO Kapiti

Snowboarding -  John Halliday, SO Central Otago

                      Robin Matthews, SO Auckland

Head Coach –    Lyn Donaldson, SO Central Otago

Figure Skater –   Benjamin Southern, SO Canterbury

Head Coach -     Kim Lewis. SO Canterbury

Head of Delegation- Stew Hewett, SO North Otago

Assistant Head of Delegation (and Coach Snowboarding) – Noel Joyce, SO North Otago

Special Olympics New Zealand wishes to thank all applicants for the Coaching and Management positions and especially encourage those who have not been successful this time to apply again in the future.

To those Athletes who were not successful we encourage you to continue to work hard, enjoy your sport and we look forward to seeing your name put forward next time.

Kind regards

Robin Sheffield

Convener of the Selection Panel